Some improvement possible for North and East Idaho this afternoon

Overnight, thick smoke continued to spread across Idaho, with the highest concentrations across South Idaho. Smoke will remain widespread through Thursday morning with the thickest smoke expected across the Treasure Valley, Owyhee Mountains, Central Mountains, and Central Idaho, with moderate to heavy smoke extending into the Snake River Plain and parts of North Idaho. 

Some improvement is expected Wednesday afternoon in the Panhandle, East Idaho, and parts of the Snake River Plain, as daytime mixing helps disperse smoke. 

Overnight, smoke will settle into valleys and low-lying areas as temperature inversions strengthen, causing air quality to worsen before improving again Thursday afternoon. 

The Treasure Valley could see periods of VERY UNHEALTHY air quality today, while the western Snake River Plain and West Central Mountains may experience brief periods of UNHEALTHY air quality.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:41 UTC (9:41 a.m. MDT) on 29 July 2026 shows clouds moving in western Washington and Oregon with clouds over South Idaho. Widespread areas of smoke are visible over Washington, Central Oregon, and most of Idaho.

Thick smoke across western Snake River Plain

Overnight, thick smoke continued to spread across Idaho, with the highest concentrations across South Idaho. Smoke will remain widespread through Wednesday morning as wildfires in the Pacific Northwest continue to produce large amounts of smoke. The heaviest smoke is expected across the Treasure Valley, Owyhee Mountains, West Central Mountains, and Central Idaho, with moderate to heavy smoke extending into the Snake River Plain and parts of North Idaho.

 Some improvement is expected this afternoon as daytime mixing helps clear the air, mainly across the Panhandle and East Idaho. Overnight, smoke will settle into valleys and low-lying areas, causing air quality to worsen before conditions improve again Wednesday afternoon. 

The highest AQI is expected in parts of the Treasure Valley, where VERY UNHEALTHY air quality is possible. Parts of the western Snake River Plain and West Central Mountains could also see brief periods of UNHEALTHY air quality.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:46 UTC (9:41 a.m. MDT) on 28 July 2026 shows clouds moving in western Washington and Oregon. Widespread areas of smoke are visible over Washington, Central Oregon, and most of Idaho.

Air Quality Advisory in Effect for 35 of 44 Idaho Counties

 

Whoa! Smoky skies across most of state!

Thick smoke spread across Idaho overnight, with the highest near-surface concentrations across South and Central Idaho. Smoke will remain widespread through Tuesday, with the heaviest concentrations expected across the Treasure Valley and Owyhee Mountains. Smoke will continue to spread across the Snake River Plain and Central Mountains, while moderate to heavy smoke persists across parts of North Idaho. Some improvement is expected across the Panhandle today as afternoon winds help disperse smoke. In East Idaho, easterly overnight winds should improve conditions before patchy smoke returns late Tuesday morning.

Tonight, cooler temperatures will trap lingering smoke in valleys and other low-lying areas, causing local AQI levels to increase until inversions break Tuesday morning. The highest AQI is expected across portions of the Treasure Valley, where VERY UNHEALTHY air quality is possible. Elsewhere, parts of the Snake River Plain and Clearwater Basin could see brief periods of UNHEALTHY air quality.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:41 UTC (9:41 a.m. MDT) on 27 July 2026 shows clouds moving through East Idaho. Areas of smoke are visible over Washington, Central Oregon, and most of Idaho.