Possibly increased smoke production this weekend in Central Idaho

With the local fires and the smoke moving into the region from Oregon and California, light to patchy smoke will linger over North and Central Idaho with limited clearing this afternoon before smoke returns overnight. As conditions dry out this weekend, look for smoke production to increase again in Central Idaho.

The westerly winds will continue to nudge light smoke and haze into South Idaho from the central Oregon and northern California fires. As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning. 

The highest AQI levels will be seen in the Central Mountains and the Clearwater Basin. Those areas could experience brief periods of UNHEALTHY.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:21 UTC (9:21 a.m. MDT) on 29 August 2025 shows light to patchy smoke and haze across Idaho with a few clouds over the Snake River Plain and the Central Mountains. Fog is present in low-lying areas of the Clearwater Basin. Thick smoke is seen emanating from the Emigrant Fire in west central Oregon that is drifting eastward towards the Treasure Valley. Most of this smoke is aloft and not near the surface.

Air Quality Advisory Remains in Effect for the Nez Perce Reservation

 

Rain --> Less Smoke --> Better Air?

Today's air quality is forecast to be Good to Moderate across most of the state while Central Idaho may see periods of Unhealthy.

Smoke production across the Central Mountains has been dampened by recent precipitation while the westerly winds are transporting smoke and haze from western Oregon and northern California into Idaho. 

Light to patchy smoke will linger over North and Central Idaho with limited clearing this afternoon from precipitation and westerly winds before smoke returns overnight. 

The westerly winds will continue to nudge light smoke and haze into South Idaho from the central Oregon and northern California fires. 

Lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions as temperatures decrease tonight and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break tomorrow morning. 

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:41 UTC (9:41 a.m. MDT) on 28 August 2025

Still Smoky in Central Idaho

Today’s air quality is forecast to be Good to Moderate for most of the state while the highest AQI levels will be seen in the Central Mountains and Clearwater Basin. Those areas could experience brief periods of Very Unhealthy air quality.

The main smoke producer is the Island Creek 14 miles east of Elk City though several other fires in the East Central Mountains and Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming are contributing to the impacts. Expect limited smoke dispersion this afternoon before more smoke settles in overnight, getting trapped under surface temperature inversion and raising local AQI levels until the inversions break tomorrow morning.

Video Source: RRFS Near Surface Smoke model initialized at 5 a.m. MDT, August 26, 2025

Air Quality Advisory Remains in Effect for the Nez Perce Reservation

 

Central Idaho Socked in with Smoke

With the warm and dry conditions, smoke production has continued to increase across the Central Mountains. Overnight, the Island Creek Fire 14 miles east of Elk City, the Rock Fire 5 miles northwest of Donnelly, the Mire Fire 22 miles northwest of Powell, and several smaller fires across the East Central Mountains; along with other fires in central Oregon, western Wyoming, and western Montana have been the main smoke producers impacting Idaho. 

Smoke will linger over the Central Mountains and Clearwater Basin with limited clearing this afternoon before smoke returns overnight, while light to patchy smoke and haze will move into East Idaho, North Idaho, and the Treasure Valley this morning with limited clearing expected this afternoon and a return of light to patchy smoke overnight. 

Elsewhere, light smoke and haze is expected for most of the rest of the state with a brief reprieve in the afternoon before light smoke and haze fill in overnight. As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning. 

The highest AQI levels will be seen around those fires in the Central Mountains and the Clearwater Basin. Those areas could experience brief periods of VERY UNHEALTHY.

Video Source: RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 11Z (5 a.m. MDT) 25 August 2025.

Air Quality Advisory Issued for Clearwater, Idaho, Lewis, Latah, and Nez Perce Counties

 

Air Quality Advisory Issued for the Nez Perce Reservation

 

Air Quality Advisory in Effect for Lemhi County