Some smoke improvements today

There have been some mild improvements for southern Idaho! Yesterday’s 24hr AQI data indicated moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups air quality across southern Idaho. Northern Idaho was in the good to moderate range.  Current air quality levels have improved across southern Idaho with readings in the good to moderate categories. Much of the smoke has shifted north, resulting in central Idaho seeing moderate readings this morning. 

There may be storms across southern and portions of central Idaho again today. These storms will bring gusty and erratic winds, offering the potential for clearing of smoke in addition to periods of rainfall in the afternoon. 

Smoke coming in to the state looks to be slightly more limited today that previously seen and the impacts expected to occur in Idaho look to be confined to the southwest and central portions of the state. Much of this smoke will remain aloft during the day allowing air quality to improve each afternoon. Nearly all of southern Idaho looks to continue to improve in air quality today as the wind field shifts in direction to a more westerly flow.  The majority of the smoke impacts will be found along the western edge of the state along the Oregon border. Smoke then looks to shift to the northeast through central Idaho, reaching as far north as the border of Bonner and Kootenai Counties. North of that, smoke impacts are expected to be light and sporadic today. 

11z HRRR-Smoke Near Surface Smoke Model-the latest model run indicates limited smoke advection with smoke circulating north and trending to the south tomorrow morning.