Limited dispersion this afternoon for parts of South and North Idaho

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Areas near local fires could experience brief periods of Unhealthy. 

Currently, smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Central Mountains and  North and South Idaho. This afternoon, westerly winds will nudge areas of smoke from the West Central Mountains into the East Central Mountains. Limited dispersion can be expected across portions of South and North Idaho this afternoon. Patchy smoke and haze from the Central Mountain fires will drift into South Idaho later this evening, while more light to patchy smoke and haze from Washington will move into the Idaho Panhandle overnight. 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. More light smoke and haze will drift into South and North Idaho tomorrow morning before afternoon winds provide further limited dispersion.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke model initialized at 6 a.m. MDT August 15, 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 and North Idaho.