Air quality is still poor in many areas today. Long-term particulate concentrations are still UNHEALTHY in Hamilton, Missoula, Frenchtown, and Great Falls, although for the last few hours, particulate hourly particulate concentrations have been MODERATE and GOOD. This means that if you were to go outside right now in these locations, the air should be GOOD without creating adverse health effects. However, if you were outdoors for the last 24 hours in these areas, the cumulative effect of the smoke would potentially be enough to aggravate the breathing of even healthy and folks who are not usually sensitive to smoke. Elsewhere, air quality is also getting worse in the Flathead Valley. All hourly concentrations have been GOOD, but long-term concentrations have been MODERATE. In the far northwest, to the southwest, and out east, air quality is GOOD just about everywhere, except for some locations that are very near to active fires.
Thunderstorms and smoke will continue to be a concern tonight. Air quality should start to improve some in these “unhealthy” areas. Tomorrow, some very hot and dry air will come to Montana. These conditions may increase fire activity, as some afternoon wind gusts blow through. Atmospheric winds will continue to blow from the southwest, so smoke from Idaho and other western states will again take aim over Montana. A weather system will be ready to approach western Montana by Wednesday morning. Winds will be very strong almost all day on Wednesday, and we are expecting a dry cold front to pass across the state throughout the afternoon and into the night. This cold front will bring even stronger winds and a wind shift. The erratic wind behavior and continued dry air will be dangerous fire weather. The air quality should slowly improve on Wednesday, from the northwest to the southeast, as cooler and cleaner air comes in behind the front. Temperatures should stay near-seasonal after Wednesday. The degree and time of relief will be relatively short, as the atmosphere gears up for another weather system at the end of the weekend, which would again put Montana downwind of Idaho’s fires. |
Air quality is still poor in many areas today. Long-term particulate concentrations are still UNHEALTHY in Hamilton, Missoula, Frenchtown, and Great Falls, although for the last few hours, particulate hourly particulate concentrations have been MODERATE and GOOD. Elsewhere, air quality is also getting worse in the Flathead Valley. All hourly concentrations have been GOOD, but long-term concentrations have been MODERATE. In the far northwest, to the southwest, and out east, air quality is GOOD just about everywhere, except for some locations that are very near to active fires. |