Wildfire Smoke Update
for
Friday, September 21, 2012 9:23 AM

Satellite Photos | Locations and Smoke Conditions

Today's Report and Forecast	Today's Summary
Air quality is still poor across western Montana this morning. Cumulative smoke exposure has become UNHEALTHY in Frenchtown, Missoula, Seeley Lake, Helena, Butte, Bozeman, and West Yellowstone. Hourly concentrations at all of these locations range from GOOD to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. Air quality is VERY UNHEALTHY in Hamilton and throughout the Bitterroot Valley. Cumulative smoke exposure has become UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS in the Flathead Valley, and MODERATE in Libby and Great Falls. Air quality in eastern Montana should be GOOD. There will be little to no significant improvement in the air quality across western Montana today. The weather pattern will stay the same, where a strong, stable ridge of high pressure is sitting over the western US. This stagnant air has kept and will continue to keep smoke in the western valleys. Winds will stay very light and variable across the west, and somewhat breezy from the northwest in eastern Montana. There will be another update this afternoon with the latest fire activity, smoke conditions, and a full forecast.	See "Today's Report and Forecast" (left). There will be another update this afternoon with the latest fire activity, smoke conditions, and a full forecast.
Residents near active fires and under plumes aloft need to remain aware of current conditions and use the visibility guidelines to guide their activity decisions as the situation changes.
Air Quality Bureau Montana Department of Environmental Quality Phone: (406) 444-3490 Email: DEQMTSmoke@mt.gov

 




 








 

Real time particulate information is currently available in most of the larger urban areas from MTDEQ's Today's Air website.

Local impacts in areas immediately adjacent to active fires are expected to exceed some or all of the advisory levels.  DEQ recommends the use of local visibility guidelines to evaluate possible health risks and make informed activity decisions.