Minimal impacts with hazy conditions

Yesterday’s 24hr AQI data indicated good to moderate air quality across the state. Air quality forecasts for today are in the good category. 

Once again, we're lucky to not have any regional smoke for most of the day. Smoke from California fires will track north over the Pacific Ocean before turning east late this evening and into tomorrow. Smoke impacts are expected to be limited to areas near any local fires. In addition, there may be limited surface smoke in the Lower Treasure Valley this afternoon that will rise up during the afternoon and settle down in the evening. Generally hazy conditions with smoke aloft should be expected across the southwest and portions of central Idaho.

 

RAP-Smoke 12Z Vertically Integrated Smoke: Smoke will track north along the Pacific Coast with light smoke over the Lower Treasure Valley.  

Another clear day

Once again, the skies are looking clear for today. Air quality is forecast to be in the good category across the state today. 

Regional smoke is expected to stay out of Idaho while there may be some local smoke impacts from Idaho fires. These conditions look to persist through at least tomorrow morning. After that, upper level smoke is expected to enter central Idaho tomorrow morning but it looks to stay aloft. Beginning around 6pm MDT tomorrow, this lofted smoke will settle at the surface starting in Idaho County and tracking south to the fringes of the Snake River Plain.

HRRR-Smoke 06Z Vertically Integrated Smoke: Smoke will track north along the Pacific Coast before curling into central Idaho tomorrow morning.  This smoke is not expected to reach the surface and should stay aloft through the day tomorrow.

Clear day ahead

 Air quality is forecast to be good to moderate across the state today.

The air should be clear today aside from areas near local fires. These conditions will continue through at least tomorrow. Late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning could bring a change in wind direction and also bring smoke towards Idaho.

US EPA Airnow Real-Time Nowcast Map: Good air quality nowcasts are evident across the state of Idaho as well as the entire Pacific Northwest.  

Weekend looking pretty good!

Light smoke from California is expected to arrive in southwest Idaho by late morning and quickly spread across most of south Idaho this afternoon. Impacts should be short lived as a cold front coming through this evening will clear the air from west to east through the night. 

By Saturday morning, all areas should be free of smoke impacts with the exception of potential impacts near local fires, particularly the Woodhead fire in Washington County. Northwest flow will keep the state clear of regional smoke through the rest of the weekend.

HRRR-Smoke Experimental 00z near surface smoke model showing a final surge of California smoke entering Idaho Friday morning before clearing out by Saturday morning. Most areas should be smoke free through the remainder of the weekend.

Clearing out tonight and tomorrow morning

Air quality is forecast to be in the good to moderate category across the state today.

Smoke from north Idaho has cleared but south Idaho can expect more smoke today coming in from California. This smoke will traverse the Snake River Plain throughout the day and leaves the state to the east last this evening and early tomorrow morning.

Conditions are expected to be clear across the state tomorrow!

HRRR-Smoke 00z-Near Surface Smoke model: Indicates smoke entering south Idaho from Nevada and Oregon before tracking east and exiting the state late tonight.  Periods of moderate smoke are expected throughout the day across southern Idaho.