Lots of patchy smoke and haze today

Winds will become calm this afternoon and allow patchy to thick smoke and haze to settle in over North Idaho this evening and linger overnight. Likewise in Central Idaho, patchy smoke and haze from the fires in the Central Mountains will settle into valleys and low-lying areas this evening and linger through the night with limited clearing in the afternoon. South Idaho will see light to patchy smoke and haze drift in from the Central Mountains this evening and linger overnight as well with limited clearing in the afternoon. The westerly winds will continue to nudge light smoke and haze towards Idaho from the central Oregon, eastern Washington and northern California fires. 

As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning. The highest AQI levels will be seen around those fires localized to the Central Mountains and North Idaho. Those areas could experience brief periods of UNHEALTHY. The rest of the state can expect air quality in the GOOD to the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:21 UTC (9:21 a.m. MDT) on 3 September 2025 shows light to patchy smoke and haze across Idaho with a few clouds over the Snake River Plain and the Central Mountains. Thick smoke is seen over central Washington that is drifting eastward towards North Idaho.

Patchy smoke lingering this evening and overnight

Winds will become calm this afternoon and allow patchy to thick smoke and haze to settle in over North Idaho this evening and linger overnight. Likewise in Central Idaho, patchy smoke and haze from the fires in the Central Mountains will settle into valleys and low-lying areas this evening and linger through the night with limited clearing in the afternoon. South Idaho will see light smoke and haze linger through the evening and overnight as well with limited clearing in the afternoon. The westerly winds will continue to nudge light smoke and haze towards Idaho from the central Oregon, eastern Washington and northern California fires. 

As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning. The highest AQI levels will be seen in the Central Mountains and the Clearwater Basin. Those areas could experience brief periods of UNHEALTHY. The rest of the state can expect air quality in the GOOD to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range. 

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image shows light to patchy smoke and haze across Idaho with a few clouds over the Snake River Plain and the Central Mountains. Thick smoke is seen emanating from the Emigrant Fire in west central Oregon that is drifting eastward towards the Treasure Valley.