Thick smoke and haze across Central Mountains

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Unhealthy range. The highest AQI levels will be experienced near local and regional fires.

Currently, smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Central Mountains, North, and South Idaho. This afternoon, westerly winds will nudge areas of smoke from the West Central Mountains and South Idaho into the East Central Mountains, the Magic Valley, and the Bitterroot Mountains. Limited dispersion this afternoon can be expected across portions South and North Idaho. Light to patchy smoke and haze will drift into South Idaho from Oregon and the Idaho Panhandle from Washington this evening. Thick smoke and haze will remain in portions of the Central Mountains from local fires. Across the state, as temperatures decrease over night, any 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 Idaho and North Idaho tomorrow morning before afternoon winds provide more limited dispersion.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke model initialized at 6 a.m. MDT August 13, 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 Idaho and North Idaho.