Relief for south Idaho today

Air quality today is forecast to be in the Good to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups categories.

Today, the low-pressure system will bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms to all of north Idaho, with showers likely over the panhandle. Surface winds will be from the southwest to north-northeast at 5-10 mph in the afternoon. In south Idaho, upper-level moisture will continue to bring a chance for showers and thunderstorms, mainly over the higher elevations around the Snake River Plain. There is a slight chance for showers over the Upper Snake River Plain and Middle Snake River Plain. Surface winds will be from the northwest to southwest at 2-8 mph in the afternoon. 

Steady rain in the Salmon area reduced the smoke load in the atmosphere and looks to continue improving today. Increasing upper-level flow from the southwest will decrease the smoke across southern areas of the state, but this may bring smoke from California and Oregon into southwest Idaho near the end of the forecast period. Expect smoky conditions to gradually improve over central and north Idaho beginning today. 

Bluesky PNW-4km initialized at 00Z (6pm MDT 9/13) shows relief in the south from smoke impacts by the afternoon today.