Air quality is GOOD at most reporting sites today. There are, however, a few sites reporting MODERATE 24-hour particulate concentrations, such as Frenchtown and Sidney. Satellite images from yesterday show a broad area of thin smoke across much of western and northern Montana. This smoke was mostly from fires in Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Canada. Across eastern Montana, a large smoke plume was seen from the fires in the wilderness west of Augusta. During the day yesterday, smoke traveled well above the ground to the east. As night settled in and the smoke came closer to the ground, parts of eastern Montana, including Sidney, Glendive, and Jordan saw MODERATE smoke impacts from these three fires, as well as ones just southwest of Fort Peck Lake. Also visible on satellite this morning, smoke settled heavily into the South Fork Flathead River and Sun River valleys within the Bob Marshall Wilderness. As of late this morning, smoke in those valleys, as well as across eastern Montana has dispersed and conditions have improved near the ground. Satellite images this afternoon (see below) show another small smoke plume starting to come out of the Bob Marshall again. However, given that surface winds are currently blowing mostly to the west, and this plume is blowing to the east, we can know that communities like Augusta and Great Falls are not going to see surface smoke impacts this afternoon. Only when the sun goes down and the surface starts to cool again, will the smoke start to settle towards the ground once more.
Temperatures are hot again today under the ridge of high pressure. There is a chance for thunderstorms late this evening, which could bring another round of lightning. On Tuesday, this huge ridge of high pressure will start to weaken. There will be another chance of thunderstorms, and most places east of the Divide will see low relative humidities again. Wednesday’s forecast is similar to Tuesday’s. By Thursday, the ridge breaks down even more with a large low pressure system coming inland from the Pacific shore. Winds will pick up on Thursday as the two opposing weather systems—the low pressure system and ridge of high pressure—come near each other. There will also be another increased risk of thunderstorms as a cold front is forecasted to sweep across the state late Thursday into Friday. By Friday, temperatures will be cooler and much more pleasant. |
Air quality is GOOD at most reporting locations across the state today. Few places, like Frenchtown and Sidney, have seen minor smoke impacts from a broad area of thin smoke over the Northern Rockies. Some of this smoke is from Idaho, Oregon, Canada, and even here in Montana. There are currently three fires burning very near each other in the wilderness west of Augusta and Great Falls. A smoke plume from this fire is visible on satellite images this afternoon, but most, if not all, of the smoke is elevated away from the ground so as not to cause smoke impacts through this evening. The same is true for fires burning just southwest of Fort Peck Lake. |