Light smoke and haze today; rain may be on the way this week

Near-surface smoke will be relatively limited across much of Idaho today, with the greatest impacts remaining near active wildfires. Areas of light smoke and haze are expected across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate to heavy concentrations near active fires. North Idaho will see scattered areas of light smoke, particularly across the Panhandle, while light smoke and haze impact portions of the Central Mountains. Across South Idaho, most areas will remain relatively clear of widespread near-surface smoke, although wildfire plumes will continue across portions of southwest Idaho and near active fires.

Overnight into Tuesday morning, smoke will remain generally localized as winds decrease and concentrations become more terrain driven. Smoke may settle into valleys and sheltered areas near active wildfires across North and Central Idaho, producing moderate concentrations. The RRFS model also shows smoke from southeast Oregon expanding toward southwest Idaho overnight, with light to moderate smoke potentially reaching portions of the western Idaho border and southwest Idaho by Tuesday morning. The Snake River Plain and East Idaho should remain comparatively less impacted.

Tuesday, increasing south to southwesterly flow will push additional smoke northward from southeast Oregon into southwest and west-central Idaho. Light to moderate smoke may become more widespread across portions of southwest Idaho and the West Central Mountains during the afternoon, with heavier concentrations near active fires and immediately downwind. Scattered light smoke will continue across North and Central Idaho, while much of East Idaho remains relatively clear. Increasing winds Tuesday afternoon and evening should keep smoke moving and limit widespread accumulation, although rapidly changing plume directions will be possible near active wildfires. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires and within localized smoke plumes, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:21 UTC (9:21 a.m. MDT) on 31 August 2026