WildfireSmokeCanada

Fort McMurray, Alberta — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5, AQHI and 48-hour smoke-model outlook · updated Oct 14, 9:25PM MDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 2 µg/m³ NowCast median across 12 monitors in Fort McMurray - Fort MacKay · range 0–7, highest at Fort MacKay West
Next 48 hoursGood 0–3 µg/m³ · 2 models
Forecast peak3 µg/m³Oct 16, 9:00AM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Air quality is good — ideal for outdoor activities.

AQHI — now & forecast (Environment Canada)

2Now
1Wed night
2Thu
2Thu night
2Fri

1–3 low · 4–6 moderate · 7–10 high · 10+ very high · Forecast squares are Environment Canada's official AQHI period maximums.

Last 24 hours across Fort McMurray - Fort MacKay & next 48 hours forecast

20100now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
HRRR — no coveragerange across monitors

Background bands (US EPA AQI, 24-h basis): ■ Good · ■ Moderate

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–1 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 12:00AM
Next 12 hours
0–2 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 10:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–2 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 15, 10:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–3 µg/m³
Peak around Oct 16, 9:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 2 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Oct 14, 11:00PM
FireWork (ECCC)2 µg/m³Oct 15, 10:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Fort McMurray; FireSmoke, FireWork and HRRR are independent and often disagree — treat the highest available value as the cautious planning number.

Observations and NowCast are total PM2.5 — wildfire smoke plus every other source — as regulatory monitors measure it, and FireWork models that same total. FireSmoke and HRRR-Smoke estimate the wildfire contribution only, so they read lower than the monitors whenever other sources matter. The optional map plume surfaces are likewise fires-only.

Sky vs. ground

Little smoke at the surface or overhead.

● At the ground · ● Overhead (relative)

0102012:00AM6:00AM12:00PM6:00PM12:00AM6:00AM12:00PM6:00PMµg/m³

Overhead smoke dims the sun but is not what you breathe. The dashed line is the column total scaled to a typical mixed plume, so it is comparable in shape, not in units · Data: ECCC FireWork

Nearby fires

150 km radius

Fire snapshot updated 2026-10-15 03:20 UTC

No active incidents are reported within 150 km.

Out of control0 fires

No out of control fires are reported within 150 km.

Being held0 fires

No being held fires are reported within 150 km.

Under control0 fires

No under control fires are reported within 150 km.

Proximity and wind direction do not prove that a fire caused smoke at this location. Sources: BC Wildfire Service in British Columbia; Natural Resources Canada CWFIS elsewhere.

Forecast track record here

29-day record · 5 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork2.3 µg/m³reads low 0.9
FireSmoke3.2 µg/m³reads low 3.2

Mean absolute error and average tendency in µg/m³, from forecasts verified 0–6 hours ahead at monitors within 50 km. A short-range record, not a measure of how far ahead a model stays reliable. FireSmoke and HRRR model wildfire smoke only, so they read below the monitors whenever other sources of PM2.5 matter.

Monitors in Fort McMurray - Fort MacKay

See the Alberta-wide forecast — every monitor, ranked →

More in Alberta: Calgary · Edmonton · Red Deer · Lethbridge · Jasper · Banff