WildfireSmokeCanada

Red Deer, Alberta — Wildfire Smoke Forecast

Live PM2.5, AQHI and 48-hour smoke-model outlook · updated Sep 21, 1:55PM MDT

Current air quality and forecast

Now · observedModerate 12 µg/m³ NowCast · latest 11 µg/m³ at Red Deer Riverside Drive
Next 48 hoursGood 2–8 µg/m³ · 2 models
Forecast peak8 µg/m³Sep 22, 11:00AM · FireWork

No significant smoke is expected in the next 48 hours.

Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

AQHI — now & forecast (Environment Canada)

3Now
4Mon
4Mon night
3Tue
2Tue 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 observed & next 48 hours forecast

20100now−24 h+24 h+48 hµg/m³
HRRR — no coverage

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

Forecast

Next 6 hours
0–4 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 21, 8:00PM
Next 12 hours
1–5 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 21, 9:00PM
Next 24 hours
2–8 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 22, 11:00AM
Next 48 hours
2–8 µg/m³
Peak around Sep 22, 11:00AM
Next 24 hours — model comparison 2 models · 24-hour peak table
ModelPeak PM2.5Peak around
FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky)2 µg/m³Sep 22, 7:00AM
FireWork (ECCC)8 µg/m³Sep 22, 11:00AM

Model values are for the nearest forecast grid cell to Red Deer; 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)

010206:00PM12:00AM6:00AM12:00PM6:00PM12:00AM6:00AM12:00PMµg/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 2026-09-21 19:50 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 · 1 nearby monitors

ModelTypical errorTendency
FireWork4.5 µg/m³reads low 3.7
FireSmoke7.0 µg/m³reads low 5.9

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.

Nearest monitoring stations

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

More in Alberta: Calgary · Edmonton · Lethbridge · Fort McMurray · Jasper · Banff