WildfireSmokeCanada

Calgary, Alberta — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5, AQHI and 48-hour smoke-model outlook · updated Sep 20, 1:55PM MDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedGood 8 µg/m³ NowCast median across 3 monitors in City of Calgary · range 8–10, highest at Calgary Southeast
Next 48 hoursModerate 0–19 µg/m³ · 3 models
Forecast peak19 µg/m³Sep 22, 10:00AM · 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
3Sun
3Sun night
3Mon
3Mon night

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 City of Calgary & next 48 hours forecast

21100now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
range across monitors

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

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–7 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 20, 8:00PM
Next 12 hours
0–12 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 21, 12:00AM
Next 24 hours
0–18 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 21, 11:00AM
Next 48 hours
0–19 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 22, 10:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 3 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)0 µg/m³Sep 21, 2:00PM
FireWork (ECCC)18 µg/m³Sep 21, 11:00AM
HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km)0 µg/m³Sep 21, 7:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Calgary; 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.

Sky right now
Clear sky

At the ground · Overhead (if mixed down)

010206:00PM12:00AM6:00AMµg/m³

Overhead smoke dims the sun but is not what you breathe. The dashed line shows the surface level if the whole column mixed through the boundary layer — a worst case, not a forecast · Data: NOAA HRRR-Smoke; cloud cover is from the model, not observed

Nearby fires

150 km radius

Fire snapshot updated 2026-09-20 19:50 UTC

Within 150 km, agencies report 1 Being held.

Out of control0 fires

No out of control fires are reported within 150 km.

Being held1 fire
2026KO5
137 km away · 11 ha · reported 2026-08-23 · PC
distance measured to the incident point
Being held
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 · 4 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork5.7 µg/m³reads low 1.5
FireSmoke12.0 µg/m³reads low 4.8

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 City of Calgary

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

More in Alberta: Edmonton · Red Deer · Lethbridge · Fort McMurray · Jasper · Banff