Smoke has arrived!!

Air quality is forecast to be in the GOOD to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range today, with the worst air quality occurring overnight in the valleys of North and Central Idaho and the Treasure Valley, where it could reach UNHEALTHY.

Patchy smoke and haze will linger for North and Central Idaho today with limited clearing expected from afternoon winds and mixing. Patchy smoke and haze will also linger over the Treasure Valley with limited clearing expected from afternoon winds and mixing. As southerly winds build today, the patchy smoke and haze over the Magic Valley will clear. Light to patchy smoke and haze will drift south from the East Central Mountains and Montana into East Idaho later this evening. As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze across Idaho will become trapped under surface temperature inversions and settle in valleys and low-lying areas which will raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning.

Air Quality Advisories are in place for all counties in central and north Idaho, as well as some southwest counties. Click here to see the most recent advisories in place. 

RRFS-CONUS Near Surface Smoke model initialized at July 20, 2026 5 a.m. MDT shows smoke and haze from Oregon and Washington drifting into North and Central Idaho, and the Treasure Valley. Light smoke and haze are seen drifting into East Idaho from the East Central Mountains and Montana.