Summary
With similar
weather expected today as we had this weekend expect air quality to remain in
the Moderate to Unhealthy category across the state. Surface winds will be
generally light and variable. Expect similar smoke impacts tomorrow as the
weather pattern is not anticipated to differ much from today; however, across
central Idaho, there looks to be a slight improvement in the afternoon as
stronger northwest winds develop. For more details about your location see
below.
Updated
10am MDT Monday, August 7, 2017
Valid
through Noon MDT Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Smoke
Outlook
Air quality
is forecast to continue to remain in the Moderate to Unhealthy air quality
category across the state today. Monitors
are currently reading in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Category
over much of Idaho with the Treasure Valley, McCall, and Paul areas displaying
hourly readings in the Unhealthy Category.
The 24hr AQI categories for Sunday mirrored the current hourly readings
with the addition of Pocatello experiencing a 24hr AQI of Unhealthy. The Panhandle experienced a 24hr AQI of
Moderate across all DEQ monitoring locations on Sunday.
Today will
see similar weather to the weekend due to an upper level blocking pattern off
the Pacific Coast. Small amounts of
moisture will be present over portions of southeast Idaho, which will allow for
a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms over the area. Elsewhere, surface winds will be light and
generally from the northwest to northeast at 5-10 mph. Northern Idaho will see 2-8 mph with northeast
to northwest winds. Skies will be mostly
sunny to sunny across northern Idaho and partly cloudy to mostly cloudy over
southern Idaho; however expect widespread smoke to limit visibility. Mixing
heights will range from 7,000-10,000 feet AGL across all of Idaho today. Transport winds will be from the northeast to
northwest at 5-10 mph.
Smoke impacts are expected to be greater in the morning prior
to the inversion lift with higher readings across much of the Treasure Valley,
Weippe and Camas Prairies, and portions of the Upper Snake River near Pocatello. Due to the light surface and transport winds
today, smoke is expected to linger and to not quickly disperse within the
mixing layer this afternoon. Expect
similar conditions experienced this weekend with heavy impacts from the
Brownlee Reservoir, Weiser, and North Fork-Payette drainages south into the
Treasure Valley. In northern Idaho,
light easterly winds are expected to bring smoke from fires in Montana west
into the Clearwater drainages and into the Camas and Weippe Prairies before
continuing west into the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and the Palouse. This evening, expect smoke to accumulate north
of Salmon, around the McCall area, and much of Oneida County. Due to the light wind speeds, smoke is also
expected to linger across the areas it accumulates in during the day. Expect
similar impacts tomorrow as the weather pattern will not differ drastically
from today; however, across central Idaho, there looks to be a slight
improvement in the afternoon as stronger northwest winds develop. Continue to expect impacts within both the
Lower and Upper Treasure Valley as well as the Pocatello area.
DEQ Air Quality Forecast and Cautions:
- The Boise Regional Office has issued a
Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Ada County, Canyon County, and Elmore County. Valid through Monday, August 7th
at 3pm at which time it will be re-evaluated. It is expected to be extended.
- The Twin Falls Regional Office has issued
a Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Blaine County, Camas County, Gooding County, Lincoln County, Twin
Falls County, Minidoka County, and Cassia County. Valid through Monday, August 7th
at 1pm at which time it will be re-evaluated. It is expected to be extended.
- The Lewiston Regional Office has issued a
Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Clearwater County, Idaho County, Latah County, Lewis County, and
Nez Perce County, river corridors, and surrounding areas off the Nez Perce
Reservation. Valid though Friday August 11th at 10am at
which time it will be re-evaluated.
- The Coeur d’Alene Regional Office has
issued a Air Quality Advisory for Benewah County, Bonner County, Boundary County, Kootenai County,
and Shoshone County. Valid
through Wednesday, August 9th at 12pm at which time it will be
re-evaluated.
- The Pocatello Regional Office has issued a
Stage 1 Air Quality Forecast and Caution for Bannock County, Power County and Franklin County. Valid
through Tuesday, August 8th at 12pm.
