Smoke Forecast for Monday, June 16, 2025, 12:30 PM
Current Conditions
Continuing a trend from this past weekend, the impacts from wildfire smoke across the state are currently minimal, but the Jericho Mountain Fire near Rimini may cause relatively localized smoke impacts throughout the day.
The Jericho Mountain Fire started Sunday morning is approximately 3 miles west of Rimini and 15 miles southwest of Helena. Currently, the fire area is reported to be 102 acres.
At 12:00 PM Monday, air quality at the monitoring stations in Great Falls, Libby, Seeley Lake, Sidney, and Thompson Falls was reported as Moderate.
Forecast
The severity of smoke impacts from the Jericho Mountain Fire is uncertain and will greatly depend on its growth today. Periods of precipitation across Powell and Lewis and Clark counties could help stifle fire growth. Current model predictions indicate potentially heavy smoke impacts to Rimini by mid-afternoon before northerly winds direct smoke towards Boulder and Butte by evening.
Tomorrow, predominantly westerly winds may cause brief impacts to air quality in Helena with more significant smoke concentrations expected along Interstate 15 near Clancy across the day. Additionally, smoke transported from the Pomas Fire in Washington may minorly affect the Northwest corner of the state.
Looking ahead to Wednesday and beyond, little to no smoke transport from outside Montana is expected to have an impact, so for now the focus remains on the Jericho Mountain Fire.
Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at todaysair.mtdeq.us or the Fire and Smoke Map.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Tags: Smoke Forecast 2025