General deterioration this morning over the Treasure Valley and Salmon area

Air quality forecasts for today are in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Category.

Today, the upper-level ridge will remain in place and strengthen, ushering in hot temperatures and dry conditions. Surface winds will be from the northwest to northeast. Surface wind speeds will be from 2-8 mph today. The strength and positioning of the ridge of high pressure will limit smoke transport but keep activity high.

Smoke will continue to affect the Central Idaho Mountains the greatest today with lifting this afternoon, leading to hazy conditions before settling back down after sunset leading to poor air quality. The upper-level ridge will keep smoke from advecting large distances, and that smoke looks to drain into the Middle and Lower Snake River Plain this evening. New fires will contribute to impacts within the Treasure Valley today and tomorrow when combined with the northeasterly surface wind field. 

HRRR-Smoke Vertically Integrated Smoke initialized at 12Z (6am MDT) and valid at 12am MDT 08/17 shows smoke covering much of the Central Idaho Mountains and funneling into the Lower Snake and Upper Snake with lesser impacts into the Middle Snake.