Air Quality Advisory Extended for Bonner and Boundary Counties

 

Looking clearer this weekend

The active weather pattern over Idaho will continue today. Shower and thunderstorm chances will increase from west to east over south Idaho, with showers likely over the higher elevations around the Snake River Plain. Winds will be from the northwest to southwest at 5-10 mph in the afternoon. There is a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms over central Idaho and the panhandle. Winds will be from the southwest to west-northwest at 5-15 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph. 

The weather over much of Idaho will remain unsettled through the weekend, with showers over south and central Idaho Saturday into Sunday and a slight chance for showers over central Idaho on Monday. On Saturday, afternoon winds over north Idaho will be from the southwest to northeast at 2-8 mph, and afternoon winds over south Idaho will be from the southeast to southwest at 5-15 mph. On Sunday, afternoon surface winds over north Idaho will be light and variable. Winds over south-central and eastern Idaho will be southerly at 10-15 mph, while winds over southwest Idaho will be from the northwest at 5-10 mph. 

Cooler temperatures and increased moisture will likely continue to slow down fire activity and reduce smoke production from the fires across central Idaho. Smoke from fires in California could continue to be transported into the southern and central portions of the state through the weekend due to southwest flow aloft.

Bluesky PNW 4-km initialized at 00Z (6pm MDT 9/15) shows minor smoke impacts tonight before clearing out for the weekend.  

Air Quality Advisory Lifted

 

EPA Lifts Ban on Open Burning for the Ft. Hall Reservation

 (Seattle – Thursday, September 15, 2022) -- Air quality has improved and in coordination with the Shoshone Bannock Tribes of the Ft. Hall Reservation the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifted its ban on open burning for the Fort Hall Reservation effective immediately.        

Restrictions on open burning, including those for fire danger, by the Tribe or other federal agencies remain in place. Before burning always check with your local fire department or appropriate tribal agency.                

The EPA thanks all reservation residents for their cooperation in protecting and maintaining good air quality.                

For current burn ban and air quality advisories on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans.  

Continued improvement today

Air quality today is forecast to range from Good to Unhealthy across the state.

The next system will bring showers and thunderstorms to all of south Idaho today. Shower chances increase from west to east; scattered to widespread showers are expected mainly east of Boise. Winds will be from the east to southwest at 5-10 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. This embedded disturbance will also bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms over central Idaho, and isolated showers are possible over the higher elevations of the Idaho panhandle. Over north Idaho, winds will be from the southwest to northwest at 5-10 mph in the afternoon with northeast winds in the vicinity of Grangeville. 

In general, expect to see continued improvements in air quality as smoke impacts decrease across the state. However, the Riggins area can expect to see smoke impacts from Oregon fires burning nearby, and smoke from California fires may cause some impacts to the southern portions of the state.  

HRRR-Smoke Near Surface Smoke initialized today at 06Z (12am MDT) shows a decrease in smoke impacts across the state.