Hi, it's Idaho. We're the problem. It's us.

Today’s air quality is forecast to be Good to Unhealthy with brief periods of Very Unhealthy near regional and local fires.

The fires in the Central Mountains of Idaho are generating areas of thick smoke and haze. Light to patchy smoke and haze are visible over the Bitterroot Mountains, the Magic Valley, and East Idaho. This afternoon, light smoke and haze will move into East Idaho from the Central Mountain fires. Limited dispersion can be expected across portions of the Magic Valley and East Idaho this afternoon. Thick smoke and haze will remain in portions of the Central Mountains from local fires. As temperatures decrease over night, lingering smoke can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later the following morning, offering limited clearing.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke model initialized at 6 a.m. MDT August 26, 2024 shows areas of smoke and haze from local fires in the Central Mountains extending eastward. Light to patchy smoke and haze are seen over the Bitterroot Mountains, the Magic Valley, and East Idaho.