Brief clearing expected before more smoke rolls in tomorrow

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. 

The smoke and haze across the Treasure Valley and the Central Mountains are slowly flowing northeast ahead of the cold front. Limited dispersion of near surface smoke is expected this afternoon. A brief clearing of smoke and haze is expected for most of the state that will continue into tomorrow morning before more smoke from the East Oregon fires moves back into the Central Mountains and Treasure Valley. Light smoke and haze from the Washington fires will also drift back into North Idaho tomorrow. Similarly, light smoke and haze will begin to move into the Magic Valley and East Idaho later tomorrow from fires in northern California. The highest AQI levels will be seen around the Treasure Valley from the East Oregon fires with brief periods of UNHEALTHY.

The HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized at 6am MDT July 24, 2024 shows areas of smoke and haze over portions of the Treasure Valley, the Central Mountains, and North Idaho. Light smoke and haze are seen over the rest of Idaho.