Clear skies?....well clear of smoke but not the rain

Near-surface smoke will remain very limited across much of Idaho today as continued unsettled weather, breezy winds, and precipitation provide good dispersion. Areas of light smoke and haze will persist across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain relatively clear, while a diffuse plume of light smoke lingers across portions of southwest Idaho and the Great Basin. 

Overnight into Friday morning, continued westerly to southwesterly flow and periods of precipitation will further reduce widespread near-surface smoke. Most smoke impacts will become confined to active wildfires and immediately downwind areas, with only scattered light smoke across portions of North and Central Idaho. South Idaho should remain largely free of widespread smoke, with any remaining Great Basin plume becoming increasingly diffuse.

Friday, cooler temperatures, scattered showers, and continued mixing will provide very good smoke dispersion across the state. The RRFS shows little organized near-surface smoke over Idaho, with only isolated light smoke near active fires and small pockets of transported smoke passing through portions of Central and East Idaho. Overall air quality should continue to improve, although localized impacts will remain possible near active wildfires. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible. 

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 3 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 3 September 2026

Good dispersion conditions on the way

Near-surface smoke will remain relatively limited across much of Idaho today as strong south to southwesterly flow and increasingly unsettled weather provides good dispersion. Areas of light smoke and haze will persist across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain relatively clear. A plume of smoke extending northward from California and southeast Oregon will continue affecting portions of southwest Idaho this afternoon, with mainly light to moderate concentrations. 

Overnight into Thursday morning, strengthening southwesterly flow and increasing precipitation will continue dispersing and transporting smoke northeastward. The plume across southwest Idaho will weaken considerably, leaving mainly light smoke across portions of southwest and south-central Idaho. Light smoke will remain scattered across North and Central Idaho, although increased concentrations may persist near active wildfires. Much of the state should be relatively free of widespread near-surface smoke by Thursday morning.

On Thursday, widespread showers, embedded thunderstorms, and breezy southwesterly winds will provide very good smoke dispersion across much of Idaho. The RRFS shows little widespread near-surface smoke remaining across North and Central Idaho, with impacts becoming increasingly confined to active wildfires and immediately downwind areas. Some light smoke transported northeastward from the Great Basin may pass through portions of South and East Idaho, but significant accumulation is not expected. Localized smoke impacts will remain possible near active wildfires, but overall air quality should improve as cooler, wetter, and breezy conditions continue. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 2 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 2 September 2026 

Relatively limited surface smoke today

Near-surface smoke will remain relatively limited across much of Idaho today, with localized impacts near active wildfires and a more organized area of smoke moving into western Idaho. Areas of light smoke and haze are expected across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active fires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain comparatively clear, while south to southwesterly flow transports smoke northward from California into southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho. Light to moderate smoke is expected to spread across portions of southwest and west-central Idaho this afternoon. 

Overnight into Wednesday morning, continued south to southwesterly flow will carry the California smoke plume northward through western Idaho. Light to moderate smoke may extend from southwest Idaho into the West Central Mountains, while smoke concentrations gradually decrease farther south as the plume shifts northward. Areas of light smoke will also persist across North and Central Idaho, with localized moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Much of East Idaho should remain relatively clear of widespread near-surface smoke.

Wednesday, strengthening southwesterly winds and increasing shower and thunderstorm activity should improve smoke dispersion across much of the state. The plume affecting western Idaho will become increasingly diffuse as it shifts north and northeast, leaving mainly light smoke and haze across portions of southwest and Central Idaho by Wednesday afternoon. North Idaho will continue to see areas of light smoke with localized higher concentrations near active fires. Gusty winds and thunderstorm outflows may cause rapid localized changes in plume direction, but widespread smoke accumulation should remain limited. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires with periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 1 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 1 September 2026