Smoky and hazy just about everywhere

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range. Areas near regional and local fires may experience brief periods of Unhealthy.

Currently, patchy smoke and haze are seen across portions of southern Idaho, the Central Mountains, and North Idaho. Later this afternoon, the smoke and haze will drift into southern and eastern Idaho, the southern portions of the Central Mountains, the Idaho Panhandle, and the Clearwater Basin. Overnight, smoke and haze will flow into eastern Idaho. As surface temperatures and winds increase tomorrow morning, limited dispersion will help clear the remaining patchy smoke and haze.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 9:21 a.m. MDT on August 7, 2024, shows patchy smoke and haze over the Central Mountains, southern and eastern Idaho, and North Idaho. The thickest smoke is seen over northern California and southwestern Oregon.

New fire starts after thunderstorms yesterday

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range with brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups near regional and local fires.

Patchy smoke and haze are currently seen across portions of the Treasure Valley, the Central Mountains, and North Idaho. Forecast models differ on the predicted concentrations of near surface smoke, as new fires ignited overnight in the region because of thunderstorms. Later this afternoon, westerly winds will nudge patchy smoke and haze into South Idaho and West Central Mountains from the northern California and Oregon fires. Likewise, patchy smoke and haze will drift into the Idaho Panhandle from the Washington and British Columbia fires and linger through the morning. Overnight the patchy smoke and haze over South Idaho will slowly wane while continuing to flow into East Idaho. As the surface temperatures increase tomorrow morning along with winds, limited dispersion will help clear out the remaining patchy smoke and haze.

RAP-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized at 9 p.m. MDT August 5, 2024 shows light to patchy smoke and haze across the state. Afternoon winds will push patchy smoke and haze into South Idaho, the Central Mountains, and the Idaho Panhandle this afternoon.

Some dispersion today followed by patchy smoke and haze tomorrow

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range with brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups near regional and local fires.

Currently, patchy smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Snake River Plains and the Central Mountains. Light smoke and haze are visible in North and East Idaho. Later this afternoon, southerly winds will help disperse near surface smoke and haze across South Idaho, East Idaho and the Central Mountains. This dispersion will continue for North Idaho in the late evening. Tomorrow morning, more patchy smoke and haze will travel into the Idaho Panhandle from Washington and Canada while patchy smoke will move in the Central Mountains and the Treasure Valley from Oregon.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized at 6am MDT August 5, 2024 shows light to patchy smoke and haze across the state.

Smoke and haze to remain over the weekend

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range with brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Group near regional and local fires.

Currently, patchy smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Snake River Plains and the Central Mountains. Light smoke and haze are visible in North and East Idaho. Later this afternoon, the near surface smoke and haze will begin to thicken across most of the state before clearing takes place Saturday morning when surface temperature inversions break. Saturday afternoon, more patchy smoke and haze will move into the Idaho Panhandle from Washington. 

The calm conditions associated with the ridge will allow smoke and haze to remain over the state through the weekend. As temperatures decrease over night, lingering smoke can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until inversions break in the late mornings, offering limited clearing.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized 12Z at 6am MDT August 2, 2024 shows patchy smoke and haze over South Idaho, East Idaho, and the Central Mountains. Smoke from the Park Fire will continue to drift north into Oregon and Idaho. 

Light smoke and haze over most of the state this afternoon

Today’s air quality is forecast to be in the Good to Moderate range, while areas around regional and local fires may experience brief periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

Currently, patchy smoke and haze are seen across portions of the Snake River Plains and the Central Mountains. Light smoke and haze are visible in North and East Idaho. Southerly winds are nudging smoke from the Park Fire in northern California into Oregon and South Idaho. By late afternoon, light smoke and haze will move over most of the state. The calm conditions associated with the ridge will allow more smoke and haze to loiter over the state overnight and for the subsequent days. As temperatures decrease overnight, lingering smoke can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until inversions break in the late mornings, offering limited clearing.

HRRR-NCEP Near Surface Smoke initialized at 6am MDT August 1, 2024 shows patchy smoke and haze over South Idaho, East Idaho, and the Central Mountains. Eventually most of the state will see light smoke and haze by the evening with areas of smoke near local fires.