Idaho Smoke Outlook

Air quality is forecast to continue to remain in the Good to Moderate air quality category for the 24 hour AQI across the state today.  Areas currently being impacted are across the northern Panhandle, south to the Salmon River corridor, and interspersed across southwest and southern Idaho.

                                                                                                                                             

Today is a transition day as an upper level trough tracks east of the state with an upper level ridge building to the west.  This will bring a zonal wind pattern aloft, promoting transport of air from Washington and Oregon into Idaho.  The general weather pattern over the coming days will transition into the influences of an upper level ridge.  This will bring generally drier conditions with warmer than normal temperatures and light surface and transport winds.  As such, fire activity and smoke production is expected to increase with impacts to Idaho airsheds increasing into Sunday.

Smoke impacts are expected to be greater in the morning prior to the inversion lift with afternoon clearing.  Under a strengthening ridge pattern, winds are anticipated to be light enough that smoke will lift during the afternoon, but not transport out of affected areas, and settle back to the valley floors beginning around sunset.  Smoke transport into the Treasure Valley is expected to continue regardless of the weather change, while the source fires will change with the changing weather.  Expect continued increased particulate levels across all of central Idaho and the northern Panhandle through Saturday. The central Panhandle region is anticipated to clear briefly beginning Friday late and into Saturday.