Free tool

Smoke Drift Estimator

See where your smoke will drift, when it reaches sensitive areas, and how well conditions will disperse it.

Wind directionThe direction the wind is blowing from.Sustained wind speedmphMixing height (optional)ftAfternoon mixing height from a fire-weather forecast. Higher disperses smoke better.Distance to a smoke-sensitive area (optional)milesA town, highway, home, or airport downwind.

Smoke will drift toward

45° from the burn

good dispersion

Good — smoke lifts and disperses well

Planning estimate only

This calculator is a planning aid, not a regulatory standard or a substitute for trained judgment. Always follow your state and local burn regulations, obtain required permits, check for active burn bans, and consult a certified burn manager for real burns.

Want real-time burn scoring?

These free tools handle the math. BurnAtlas Pro reads live NOAA weather for your location, scores each day 0–100 against professional prescribed-fire standards, and shows you the best days to burn — with full state regulations and permit contacts.

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