Washington wildfire smoke forecast

The map shows NOAA HRRR-Smoke near-surface PM2.5 for the next 48 hours, updated hourly, with active fire perimeters from NIFC and live AQI from EPA AirNow monitors. It opens over Seattle. Search any town or use the buttons above.

The Puget Sound lowlands (Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham) trap smoke under marine-influenced inversions, often clearing only when onshore flow returns. East of the Cascades, Spokane and Yakima take smoke fast on easterly and northerly flow from interior and British Columbia fires.

Use the layer toggle to compare NOAA HRRR-Smoke with the ECCC FireWork model. When the two disagree, treat the higher reading as the cautious call.

Near-surface is the product that maps to what you breathe and to AQI, not the high-altitude column that only tints the sunset.