Thick smoke over Central Mountains

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

Currently, smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Central Mountains and North and South Idaho. This afternoon, southwesterly winds will nudge areas of smoke into the East Central Mountains and North Idaho. Limited dispersion can be expected across portions of South and North Idaho this afternoon, but by evening, patchy smoke and haze will drift into South and East Idaho. Light to patchy smoke and haze will linger over 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.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 20 August 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.