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Colorado’s AQI can swing with Front Range upslope winds, afternoon thunderstorms, and overnight valley inversions in the mountains. Use the live map below to see today’s conditions and set a simple plan for your home and routine.
Check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map in the morning and again between 2–6 PM when storms and wind shifts often change AQI.
Keep windows closed and set HVAC to recirculate. Use the highest MERV your system supports while maintaining normal airflow.
Consider a two inch or four-inch pleated filter if your cabinet allows it. Thicker filters hold more media and load more slowly.
Create a clean air room with a right sized HEPA purifier and keep the door closed during smoky hours.
On hot stagnant days, ozone can be elevated along with smoke. Reduce outdoor exertion even if the smoke smell seems mild.
Open the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. Enter your city or ZIP code to view current AQI, PM2.5, and smoke plumes. Use the time slider to watch how conditions evolve during the day, then plan outdoor time for the clearest window.
Front Range upslope. Easterly winds can push smoke into Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Conditions often shift after midday.
Mountain valley inversions. In places like Durango, Steamboat Springs, and Glenwood Springs, smoke can pool overnight and lift late morning with mixing.
Regional transport. Fires in neighboring states can add haze along I-25 and high mountain passes. Check the broader view on the map rather than distance to a single incident.
Thunderstorms can reverse winds and change mixing depth quickly. Recheck the map in late afternoon. Move outdoor plans to the period the map shows as cleaner for your area.
Summer afternoons can bring elevated ozone along with PM2.5 from smoke. If both are high, stay indoors with filtration and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
Check the map twice daily. Morning and late afternoon checks catch wind and storm changes.
Seal and recirculate. Close windows and outside air intakes. Run the fan so air passes your filter more often.
Use efficient filtration. If airflow stays normal, install MERV 13 during smoke events. If the system struggles, use MERV 11 and add a HEPA purifier sized for the room.
Clean air room. Choose a bedroom or living area and keep the door closed. Aim for a smoke CADR roughly equal to the room’s square footage.
Short term backup. A box fan with a MERV 13 filter can help when built and used safely. Use a newer certified fan and do not leave it unattended.
If your return uses a one-inch filter, expect faster loading during smoke. If your cabinet supports it, step up to a two-inch or four-inch pleated filter for more media area. Keep the fan “on” during smoky periods so air circulates through the filter more frequently.
Check monthly by default. During prolonged smoke, inspect every one to two weeks and replace early if the media looks gray or matted or if airflow drops at vents. Return to your usual schedule after several clear days.
Keep windows closed and set the car to recirculate. Make sure a cabin air filter is installed and in good condition. Keep trips short when AQI is very high.
Before peak smoke months, do a quick setup so you are ready when AQI rises.
Confirm your filter size and MERV.
Test the recirculate setting and make sure the fan runs smoothly.
Choose one clean air room and place a right sized HEPA purifier there.
If your return currently uses a one-inch filter and your cabinet allows it, consider a two-inch or four-inch pleated filter so it lasts longer during smoke periods.
Open the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, confirm today’s AQI, and set your system to recirculate.
For indoor protection, order MERV 13 or MERV 11 filters from Filterbuy in standard or custom sizes. Filters are made in the USA and ship fast with free delivery. Turn on Auto Delivery so replacements arrive on schedule through Colorado’s smoke season.
Open the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and search your city or ZIP code. Check again later in the day since winds and storms can shift conditions quickly.
Upslope flows and afternoon thunderstorms can flip wind direction and mixing depth within a few hours. Plan a second check between 2 and 6 PM.
Use AQI 101 and higher as your cue to cut back outdoor time. People who are sensitive should be cautious even at Moderate.
Close windows, choose recirculate, and keep the fan on so air passes the filter more often.
Pick the highest MERV your system can handle without hurting airflow. Many homes use MERV 11 most days and move to MERV 13 during events if the system stays comfortable.
If your return cabinet allows it, a two-inch or four-inch pleated filter has more media and usually lasts longer than a one-inch filter during smoke.
Look every one to two weeks. Replace early if the media turns gray or matted or if airflow drops at the vents.
Pick one bedroom or living area, shut the door, and run a HEPA purifier sized for that room. Keep the central fan on recirculate.
Match smoke CADR to room size. A 200 to 300 square foot room calls for roughly 200 to 300 CADR. Run it on medium or high during smoke.
When both ozone and PM2.5 are high, move exercise indoors and keep filtration running. Plan errands for the clearest window shown on the map.
It can help as a short term option. Use a newer certified box fan and a MERV 13 filter. Do not leave it running unattended.
Seal windows and doors. Use a battery capable HEPA purifier if you have one for a single room. Limit door openings until power returns.
Close windows and select recirculate. Make sure the cabin air filter is installed and not overdue for replacement. Keep trips short when AQI is very high.
A snug N95 or P100 reduces inhaled particles. Cloth and surgical masks are not designed for fine smoke.
Overnight temperature inversions can hold smoke near the ground in valley towns. Conditions often lift late morning as mixing improves.
Wait until the map shows cleaner air for your location for several hours. Open windows briefly, then close up and return to recirculate if levels rise again.
Yes. PM2.5 can still be elevated from residential wood burning on cold, stagnant days. A quick AQI check is useful year round.
