Air quality has improved across the state today. High atmospheric winds have helped to steer smoke out of the state. Idaho is still producing a lot of smoke this afternoon, but thanks to those high winds, that smoke is not impacting us like it was this past week. Temperatures have stayed cooler in the plains and relative humidities have been much higher. Those fires have not been much of a problem today, and smoke has not been very heavy. Across the west, however, temperatures have been hot again, and it is very dry. Recent thunderstorms have sparked new, small fires, which is creating some smoke. Also, there are several fires in eastern Idaho, just across the border from Ravalli County, which is also making some smoke.
A ridge of high pressure is building over the west, which means another period of hot, dry weather, with poor dispersion to keep skies hazy again. There will be very slight chances for late afternoon thunderstorms for the next couple of days. These conditions will last through Monday for western Montana, and Tuesday for eastern Montana. A large low pressure weather system is forecasted to start moving across the state on Tuesday. Rain, thunderstorms, and wind will start to sweep across western Montana on Tuesday. While this is happening, eastern Montana will get very hot and very dry ahead of the strong cold front. By Wednesday, we will enter into a cool period where fire and smoke concerns will take a break for a short while. |
Air quality has improved across the state today. High atmospheric winds have helped to steer smoke out of the state, while also keeping heavy smoke produced in Idaho this afternoon away as well. The next few days may bring additional haze and smoke, but we are looking forward to the middle of next week when the weather finally cools down, and fire concerns ease. |