Fort Collins Smoke Forecast 10/25/2016 (example not real, no data)

We are nearing the end of the wildfire season and today's forecast shows it. Lets take a look at the locations of the fires the NOAA Hazard Mapping System has determined to be producing significant amounts of smoke.

 This map shows there are no fires near Fort Collins. This should mean good news for local particulate matter (PM) pollution levels.

The figure below shows the 24-hour rolling mean PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) concentrations in Fort Collins. The plot is shaded using the EPA Air Quality Index. When the black line is in the blue shaded region the air quality is good, the tan area is classified as moderate.

The low concentrations of PM2.5 indicate that Fort Collins is not currently being influenced by smoke. With little to no fire activity nearby or upwind we can expect smoke free conditions today.