Smoke Impacts to continue on Thursday and Friday

Active fires in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona will continue to produce smoke that will impact air quality in the Centennial State on Thursday and Friday.

The Ferris Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and the Willow Fire are the biggest factors in smoke production on the Western Slope of Colorado, and with the addition of smoke from fires in other states, significant degradation of air quality will continue in many areas.

The Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo County also remains active and is contributing to poor air quality in areas along the Front Range and the neighboring plains. Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke remain in effect for much of the state. The northern Front Range remains under an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants due to concerns from ozone and particulate (smoke) pollution.

Map showing Air Quality Advisories (in gray) and Action Days (in purple) in effect throughout Colorado on Thursday and Friday. Map from colorado.gov/airquality

Hot and dry weather remains in the forecast over the next several days, so these alerts are likely to continue as we head into the weekend. Shifts in the weather pattern may alter the areas that are affected by smoke, so stay tuned to updates as weather, fire behavior, and smoke production and transport may change over the next few days.

Reducing heavy exertion, particularly when outdoors and for folks who have conditions that make them sensitive to air pollution, can help to reduce health impacts from exposure to poor air quality. 

Information on all air quality alerts and ways to protect your health can be found on the CPDHE website using the links on this page. Updates will continue to be provided here as well in our efforts to keep you informed.

Wednesday Smoke Outlook

Another smoky day is on the horizon for many Coloradans. Several wildfires continue to burn in Colorado and neighboring states, and smoke is expected to stick around through at least Thursday morning.

GOES-19 visible satellite image shows a large plume of smoke over Colorado. Smoke is expected to continue for many counties on Wednesday. Image courtesy of RAMMB CIRA Slider.

Not much has changed on the Western Slope since Tuesday morning. The Ferris Fire, Gold Mountain Fire, and Snyder Mesa Fire continue to burn, and moderate to heavy smoke is possible through at least Thursday morning. The Air Quality Health Advisory remains in effect until 9 am Thursday. 

In eastern Colorado, the Aspen Acres Fire just southwest of Pueblo is still producing heavy smoke. Particulate Matter concentrations are especially high in Pueblo, Canon City, Cripple Creek, and Woodland Park. Moderate to heavy smoke is possible through at least Thursday morning. 

 However, there are some changes to note. Smoke is not expected to reach as far north today, so the Air Quality Health Advisory has been updated to remove Washington, Lincoln, and Morgan Counties. 

In the Northern Front Range, an Action Day for Multiple Pollutants is in effect until at least 4 pm today. As of Wednesday morning, the heaviest smoke is in the foothills, particularly in Jefferson and Douglas Counties. This includes Evergreen, Aspen Park, and Roxborough Park. In the Front Range, Particulate Matter and Ozone could both reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category today.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect today for southeastern Utah and western Colorado. Dry, windy weather is on tap for Wednesday, so existing fires may grow, and new fires may spark. For real-time air quality information near you, visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.

We are monitoring the smoke and will provide updates as the situation develops.