Heating up today; expect increased fire activity and smoke

Air quality today is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range. 

Idaho continues to be under a high-pressure ridge. An embedded disturbance will bring a slight chance for isolated thunderstorms over the elevated terrain of north Idaho. Afternoon winds in north Idaho will be from the south-southwest to northwest at 5-10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph near Lewiston. Southern Idaho will see easterly winds in the morning and west-northwest to southwest winds at 5-10 mph and gusts up to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Numerous fires in the western states are creating widespread haze across Idaho. Intense heat today is expected to increase fire activity and could contribute to a smoke column visible in Cascade this afternoon. Near Salmon, smoke impacts will be worse in the morning before improving some in the afternoon, while Lemhi’s air quality will get worse into the evening as smoke begins to settle into the drainages. North Idaho will see widespread light smoke impacts Thursday morning, with the panhandle seeing higher concentrations overall.

HRRR-Smoke Vertically Integrated Smoke initialized 12Z (6am MDT) and valid at 5pm MDT show increased fire activity and smoke production in the late afternoon today.