Smoke Forecast for Thursday, July 11, 2024 8:00 AM

July 11 2024

Current Conditions

Smoke from wildfires in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta continues to affect air quality in Montana. Far Eastern Montana between Glendive and Sidney is experiencing the impacts of light smoke from the Canadian blazes, while light smoke from fires primarily in Washington blankets much of the Western and Southern half of the state. The heaviest smoke impacts to air quality this morning are being felt near the Idaho border between Thompson Falls and Libby.

Additionally, late on Tuesday, a wildfire was reported approximately 15 miles east of Helena near Canyon Ferry. Smoke from this fire extended towards Lewistown and Billings late on Wednesday before shifting south towards Townsend in the early hours of Thursday.

A strong atmospheric ridge has persisted throughout the week, bringing with it very high temperatures and low relative humidity. As such, new fires remain a concern.

This morning, air quality for Libby, Thompson Falls, Flathead Valley, Frenchtown, Missoula, Seeley Lake, Hamilton, Choteau, Helena, Butte, Dillon, West Yellowstone, Lewistown, Billings, Malta, Miles City, Broadus, Glendive, and Sidney is moderate.

A current (8am) map of near-surface smoke predicted by the HRRR model. Smoke is heaviest between Libby and Thompson Falls as well as to areas east of Helena.

Forecast

Westerly transport winds will help push Canadian smoke out of the state by the early afternoon, improving air quality in Eastern Montana. However, these same winds will likely deliver more smoke from fires in Washington and Oregon across almost all of Montana. Smoke will be light in most places, but light/moderate smoke will likely affect the Northwestern portion of the state through late afternoon before winds will push this smoke into North Central Montana heading into the evening. Heavier smoke from the Horse Gulch Fire near Canyon Ferry will have the greatest air quality impacts in the area between Canyon Ferry, White Sulphur Springs, and Bozeman.

Temperatures are expected to remain high today and into the weekend with daily highs approaching 20 degrees above average for most of the state. High temperatures and low relative humidity (<15%) will continue to contribute to potential fire risk in Montana and the rest of the West.

HRRR Smoke Model Map of Near-Surface Smoke forecasted for 8pm local time on Thursday, July 11th, 2024. Light to moderate density smoke is concentrated in Central Montana near Great Falls and east of Helena.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. Please keep track of concentrations at Today's Air or the Fire and Smoke Map.

Tags: Smoke Forecast 2024