Widespread smoke aloft today

Air quality forecasts today are in the Moderate category with Franklin County forecasted to be in the Good category.

There will be widespread smoke aloft today as southwest winds transport smoke from CA, OR, WA, and southern BC into the state. Smoke will likely linger and be heaviest overnight and in the mornings before lifting in the afternoon. The highest smoke concentrations will be found around Salmon today. North Idaho looks to remain relatively clear, except for the northern Panhandle, where conditions are expected to deteriorate this afternoon due to the transport of regional smoke into the area. Nocturnal drainage from BC fires will affect the area tonight and into tomorrow morning. Central Idaho looks to remain relatively clear thanks to a westerly flow that is keeping smoke at bay. As soon as easterly winds develop, conditions will rapidly deteriorate.

Video: GOES-16 “RGB True Color” imagery valid ~12pm MDT to ~6pm MDT yesterday (07/25).  Note that the intense whitening of the sky at the end of the movie is likely due to the solar angle at that time of day.