Smoke Forecast for Wednesday, July 22 2026 9:30 AM
Current Conditions
Numerous active wildfires continue to burn across Washington and Oregon. Smoke from these fires is impacting much of the state early Wednesday. Surface smoke remains widespread over northeast Montana from Canadian wildfires.
So far this summer, more acres have burned in Oregon than in all of 2025. Nearly 500,000 acres have already burned across Oregon, with many fires still active. Despite a slow start to wildfire season in Montana, we continue to see impacts from surrounding states.
At 9:00 AM Wednesday, air quality was moderate over Libby, Thompson Falls, Butte, Great Falls, Columbia Falls, Missoula, Frenchtown, Hamilton, Butte, Helena, Dillon, Billings, Malta, Glasgow, Glendive, and Bozeman.
By Thursday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows Canadian wildfire smoke receding from northeast Montana with light smoke covering the rest of the state from Idaho and Washington wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
East and northeast transport winds should ease on Wednesday across northeast Montana. This should gradually shift the Canadian wildfire smoke out of the state. As a result, folks in Glasgow, Glendive, and Malta should see improving air quality over the next 24-hours.
Unusually warm and humid air will stream north into the state Wednesday and Thursday. Monsoonal moisture will provide scattered showers and a few thunderstorms for the region. The bulk of the precipitation should stay south of I-90 on Wednesday. By Thursday, the threat for showers and thunderstorms expands to include more of the state.
High pressure builds over the Treasure State by Friday and this upcoming weekend. It will produce hot, dry, and windy conditions over the state, leading to elevated fire weather concerns. A lot will depend on how widespread the precipitation is between Wednesday and Thursday, and this will ultimately determine how critical the fire weather conditions become. 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.
Smoke from Oregon and Washington wildfires continues to stream into Montana early Wednesday morning.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont Fire | Idaho | 1 mile NE of Boise, Idaho | 6606 | 85% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Approx 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, ID, up the Smith Creek Drainage | 970 | 0% |
| Turner Fire | Idaho | 5 miles south of Copeland, Idaho | 681 | 79% |
| Shingle Creek | Idaho | Six Miles Southwest of Riggins, ID | 628 | 85% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 19034 | 3% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1433 | 35% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 149976 | 24% |
| East Evans Creek Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles NE of Rogue River | 15705 | 26% |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2445 | 26% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 2109 | 0% |
| Brewer Fire | Oregon | 15 Miles E of Madras, OR | 27932 | 5% |
| Box Springs | Oregon | 18 Miles W of MITCHELL, OR | 12343 | 0% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam County and Sherman County, Oregon | 116131 | 67% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2255 | 0% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 611 | 10% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 5685 | NA |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 15477 | 10% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17343 | 21% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 453 | NA |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 20767 | 24% |
| Egypt Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles N of Riley, OR | 4685 | 18% |
| North Cayuse Fire | Oregon | 15 miles east of Pendleton, OR. | 4887 | 91% |
| Kaiser Canyon Fire | Washington | Nespelem Okanogan / Kaiser Canyon | 79642 | 1% |
| Royal Lake | Washington | 8 miles NW of Othello, WA | 1995 | 95% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 777 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 8760 | 0% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 27% |
| B and O Fire | Washington | 23200 Block of State Route 20, Okanogan, Washington | 2762 | 95% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast