Central Mountains seeing biggest smoke impacts

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, though areas near regional and local fires may experience brief periods of Unhealthy.

Currently, smoke and haze are visible across North, East, and South Idaho. Portions of the Central Mountains are experiencing thick smoke and haze from local fires where it remain all day. This afternoon, westerly winds will nudge areas of smoke from the West Central Mountains into the East Central Mountains. Limited dispersion can be expected for portions of South, East, and North Idaho. Light smoke and haze will drift back into South Idaho this evening. As temperatures decrease over night, lingering smoke across the state can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later the following morning, offering limited clearing. More light smoke and haze will drift into South and North tomorrow morning before afternoon winds provide more limited dispersion.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke model initialized at 6 a.m. MDT August 14, 2024 shows areas of smoke and haze from local fires in the Central Mountains extending eastward. Light to patchy smoke and haze are visible over portions of South, East, and North Idaho.