That smoky haze that settled over Fort Collins on Thursday is connected to wildfires in Wyoming and Idaho rather than the Goltra fire burning west of Denver, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Its fire and smoke map shows increased levels of smoke in Fort Collins, Loveland and points to the east along the southern edge of a large area of smoke to the north and east.
“Moderate-to-thick plumes of smoke were observed emanating from several large wildfires throughout central Idaho and northern Wyoming this morning, resulting in an area of moderate smoke that was seen moving east-northeast into Montana, the Dakotas and Nebraska,” NOAA posted Thursday on its daily smoke report.
The Coloradoan maintains an active and constantly-updating map of fires and projected air quality .
Air quality in Fort Collins by 3 p.m. was in the yellow to orange categories in the air-quality index used by NOAA and the National Weather Service. Orange indicates unhealthy air for people in sensitive groups, who should take precautions by reducing outdoor activities. Yellow indicates moderate air quality.