Last smoke update unless conditions change!

Today, in the wake of the low-pressure system, north Idaho will be under dry northwest flow aloft while south Idaho will be under dry westerly flow. Winds will be from the northwest to southwest at 5-15 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph over the Arco Desert and Upper Snake River Plain. In the north, winds will be from the southwest to northwest at 5-10 mph in the afternoon.  

Drier conditions are expected for the next few days as a high-pressure ridge builds over the west coast. Saturday will start to warm up, and the warming trend will continue into next week as the ridge remains entrenched over Idaho. On Saturday, winds over north Idaho will be from the southwest to northwest (with some northeast components) at 2-8 mph. Over south Idaho, winds will be from the northwest to southwest at 5-10 mph. On Sunday, winds will be light and variable across the entire state. 

Smoke impacts are dependent on fire growth but generally will continue to be limited to areas immediately downwind of local fires. Any smoke present is expected to settle in adjacent mountain valleys overnight. The Idaho panhandle will see periods of haze from wildfires located over Washington state and southern British Columbia as the upper-level winds remain westerly, but as the ridge starts to build in, the haze is expected to diminish as the plumes shift directions due to variable surface wind speeds. 

HRRR-Smoke Near Surface Smoke initialized at 12Z (06 am MDT) shows hazy conditions across the panhandle and portions of eastern Idaho.

Cloud cover and showers today

The closed low-pressure system will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms from Sandpoint south to the Central Mountains and over the Eastern Highlands. Showers are likely over the Southeast Highlands. There is a slight chance to a chance for showers and thunderstorms over the Treasure Valley and Upper Snake River Plain in the south and over the panhandle north of Sandpoint. Winds in the north will be from the south-southwest to west-southwest at 5-15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph. Winds in the south will be from the northwest to southwest at 5-20 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 30 mph from the Magic Valley east. 

The active weather pattern will continue to result in minimal wildfire activity over much of Idaho, while there has some minor fire growth on fires to the west. The central area of the state could see some lofted haze today but generally, smoke impacts will continue to be limited to areas immediately downwind of local fires. Smoke is expected to settle in adjacent mountain valleys overnight. 

GOES-17 West Satellite Imagery from RAMMB/CIRA from 8:30-10:20 am MDT shows the closed low-pressure bringing cloud cover and showers to Idaho.

Rainy day for central and south Idaho

Air quality today is forecast to be Good.

The approaching closed low pressure system will slowly move into the Pacific Northwest, and the associated moisture will bring a chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms over all of south Idaho and up into the prairies of central Idaho. Showers and thunderstorms are likely over the Central Mountains and the Eastern, Southeast, and Southern Highlands. Isolated showers are possible along the Clearwater River. Winds in the south will be from the northwest to southeast at 5-15 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 25 mph from the Magic Valley east. In the north, winds will be from the northeast to northwest at 5-15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph in the vicinity of Grangeville in the afternoon. Higher gusts are possible near any thunderstorm activity. 

The active weather pattern will continue to result in minimal fire activity over much of the region. Smoke impacts will continue to be limited to areas immediately downwind of local fires. Smoke is expected to settle in adjacent mountain valleys overnight. 

MODIS Terra Satellite image from yesterday, 9/20, shows some smoke impacts downwind of local fires. 

Clear skies finally

Air quality today is forecast to be Good to Moderate.

An approaching low-pressure system will stall over California today, and north Idaho will be under split flow aloft while south Idaho will be under southwest flow aloft. In the south, winds will be from the northwest to south-southwest at 5-15 mph in the afternoon with gusts up to 25 mph, mainly from the Magic Valley east. In the north, winds will be from the northeast at 5-15 mph with northerly winds over Lewiston. 

The continued active weather pattern will result in minimal fire activity over much of the region. Smoke impacts will be light and limited to areas immediately downwind of local fires. 

MODIS Terra Satellite image from yesterday, 9/19, shows clear skies across the state. 

Hazy today

Much of Idaho will be under southwest flow aloft as an approaching low pressure system stalls just off the coast of northern California. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible over the far northern panhandle. Over north Idaho, winds will be from the southwest to northwest at 5-10 mph with gusts up to 15 mph over the Panhandle in the afternoon. Winds in the vicinity of Grangeville will be from the northeast. Over south Idaho, winds will be from the southeast at 2-8 mph over the Treasure Valley and from the south to southwest at 10-20 mph elsewhere in the afternoon with gusts up to 25 mph over south-central and eastern Idaho. 

Expect hazy conditions and light smoke impacts primarily across Central and North Idaho with some minor impacts all along the Idaho/Oregon border through Tuesday morning. Smoke impacts will be heavily dependent on fire activity. Some areas immediately downwind of fires could see impacts, especially overnight as smoke settles into mountain valleys.  

HRRR-Smoke Near Surface Smoke initialized at 06Z (12am MDT) and valid at 6pm MDT shows light smoke impacts along the OR/ID border and further north across Central and Northern Idaho.  

Air Quality Advisory Lifted for the Nez Perce Reservation

 

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.