Smoke Forecast for Wednesday, June 11, 2025 10:30 AM
Current Conditions
An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Blaine, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Hill, McCone, Phillips, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley, and Wibaux Counties until 9AM Thursday.
Smoke from various Canadian wildfires is responsible for poor air quality and compromised visibility over much of northeast Montana early Wednesday. Visibility has fallen below 2 miles in several locations due to dense surface smoke concentrations. Easterly surface winds are helping to funnel the smoke into the region.
At 9:00 AM Wednesday, Cut Bank, Havre, Malta, Sidney, Glasgow, and Glendive had air quality that was considered Unhealthy. Columbia Falls, Libby, Choteau, Great Falls, Glendive, Miles City, Billings, Miles City, Seeley Lake, and Broadus’ air quality are Moderate.
The HRRR smoke model shows less surface smoke over portions of northeastern Montana by Thursday afternoon as the easterly flow begins to ease.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
The HRRR smoke model keeps heavy concentrations of dense surface smoke over much of northeastern Montana through Thursday. Air Quality Alerts continue until Thursday morning for several counties because of this trend. The flow at the surface over northeastern Montana will remain out of the east through at least Friday, and this will keep some surface smoke in the forecast. There are numerous chances for wetting rains and thunderstorms between Wednesday and the weekend across much of Montana and western Canada. The precipitation should help ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production over portions of Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Stay tuned!
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.
Heavy surface smoke remains visible across much of northeastern Montana Wednesday morning as an area of low pressure moves into southwest Montana.
Source: NOAA
Summary
Heavy surface smoke will remain a concern over much of northeastern Montana through Thursday morning because of Canadian wildfires. Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast through the weekend across Montana and western Canada and should help ease fire behavior and begin to limit smoke production.
Tags: Smoke Forecast 2025