Smoke Forecast for Thursday, July 23 2026 9:00 AM
Current Conditions
Numerous active wildfires continue to burn across Washington and Oregon. Smoke from these fires will create smoky skies across Montana in the coming days. The Flathead Valley is experiencing the worst air quality early Thursday. Much of the surface smoke should mix out as the day goes on, leading to improving air quality.
At 8:00 AM Thursday, air quality was moderate over Libby, Thompson Falls, Cut Bank, Havre, Great Falls, Missoula, Frenchtown, Helena, Dillon, Malta, Glasgow, and Glendive. Columbia Falls’ air was unhealthy for sensitive groups.
By Friday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light to moderate smoke covering parts of the state from regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Thursday will be the last hurrah for this round of monsoonal moisture across Montana. Expect another wave of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Some of these storms will contain gusty winds and torrential rainfall. The Treasure State will see additional smoke from Oregon and Washington wildfires transported into the region over the next several days.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions should dominate the weather story Friday and into the weekend. This will produce elevated fire weather conditions for much of the state. Afternoon highs will climb well into the 90s for most valley locations and afternoon wind gusts over 30 miles per hour will be common. This weather pattern will drop fuel moistures to critical levels and set the stage for new wildfires to spread quickly.
Monsoonal moisture will remain well south of Montana by next week, limiting the afternoon thunderstorm threat. A southwesterly flow will persist, providing unseasonably warm air for the state through much of the following week. Despite a slow start to the wildfire season across Montana, wildfire activity should pick up with this weather pattern. 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 Thursday 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 | 1032 | 0% |
| Turner Fire | Idaho | 5 miles south of Copeland, Idaho | 681 | 82% |
| Shingle Creek | Idaho | Six Miles Southwest of Riggins, ID | 628 | 85% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 149983 | 28% |
| East Evans Creek Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles NE of Rogue River | 15705 | 33% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 7417 | NA |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 19034 | 3% |
| Box Springs | Oregon | 18 Miles W of MITCHELL, OR | 15203 | 0% |
| Brewer Fire | Oregon | 15 Miles E of Madras, OR | 29878 | 5% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 2426 | 0% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon | 138476 | 76% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2269 | 8% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 590 | NA |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2445 | 52% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21051 | 24% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1433 | 40% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 675 | NA |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17343 | 21% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 15477 | 10% |
| Egypt Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles N of Riley, OR | 4595 | 39% |
| North Cayuse Fire | Oregon | 15 miles east of Pendleton, OR. | 4887 | 91% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 9077 | 0% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 1069 | 0% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Kaiser Canyon Fire | Washington | Nespelem Okanogan / Kaiser Canyon | 79642 | 3% |
| Royal Lake | Washington | 8 miles NW of Othello, WA | 1995 | 95% |
| 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