Smoke Forecast for Monday, July 27, 2026 9:30 AM

July 27 2026

Current Conditions

Montana DEQ has issued an air quality alert for Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Glacier, Granite, Hill, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Missoula, Petroleum, Pondera, Powell, Ravalli, Silver Bow, Teton, Toole, and Phillips counties. The alert expires at 9AM on 07/28/2026.

Hot, dry, and smokey conditions will linger over much of the state. Numerous active wildfires continue to burn across Oregon and Washington. In the last few days, near critical fire weather conditions has led to several new starts across Montana.

The Moose Fire southwest of Georgetown Lake, the Elder 1 Fire just south of Frenchtown, and the North Fork Lost Horse Fire southwest of Hamilton grew again on Sunday. Communities downwind of these fires will continue to see the greatest impacts to air quality.

At 9:00 AM Monday, particulate levels in Havre and Malta are Unhealthy. Particulate levels in Butte, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Lewistown and Sleeping Giant are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Dillon, Frenchtown, Libby, Missoula and Thompson Falls are Moderate

By Tuesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows areas of heavy smoke covering much of the western half of the state from domestic and regional wildfires.

HRRR Smoke Model

Source: HRRR-smoke

Forecast

Hot, dry, and smoky conditions will persist throughout the week. A handful of new wildfires started over the weekend. Unseasonably hot temperatures, low humidity, and gusty afternoon winds will lead to additional growth on these blazes, including wind-driven fire behavior.

Widespread smoke will impact much of the state in the coming days, helping to stabilize the atmosphere, reducing thunderstorm chances. The smoke will also limit solar radiation and reduce afternoon high temperatures by a few degrees. Expect the usual diurnal impacts to air quality this week. Smoke tends to drain and pool overnight, leading to deteriorating air quality. Better atmospheric mixing during the hottest part of the day usually leads to improving air quality.

The ridge of high pressure should begin to break down starting this weekend. This will lead to a period of strong winds and critical fire weather. Eventually cooler air will begin to spill south into Montana. Unfortunately, there is very little moisture that will accompany this pattern change in our weather, but more typical temperatures can be expected by next week. 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 regional wildfires is creating smoky skies early Monday morning across much of Montana. Satellite Imagery western US

Source: NOAA

Current Wildfires

Incident Name	State	Location	Acres	Containment
Upper Smith Fire	Idaho	Approx 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, ID, up the Smith Creek Drainage	1518	15%
Claremont Fire	Idaho	1 mile NE of Boise, Idaho	6606	90%
Duncan	Idaho	50 Miles SW of Mountain Home, ID	16362	70%
Cascade	Idaho	22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho	280	NA
Elder 1 Fire	Montana	7 Miles west of Frenchtown, MT	318	NA
Twin Sisters Fire	Montana	10 miles northwest of Judith Gap, MT	93	NA
North Fork Fire	Montana	10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek	105	NA
Hay Creek Complex	Oregon	Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon	186730	60%
Grasshopper	Oregon	7 miles west of Wamic	10742	0%
Henry Fire	Oregon	5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR	28827	35%
Coyote Fire	Oregon	5 miles south of Post, OR	17447	57%
Anthony Fire	Oregon	34 miles north of Baker City, OR	2561	89%
Burnt Creek Fire	Oregon	23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR	3074	0%
Horse Ridge Fire	Oregon	25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR	832	60%
Paradise Fire	Oregon	15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon	760	NA
Rowe Creek Complex	Oregon	10 Miles S of Fossil, OR	208546	35%
Hagen Fire	Oregon	26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR	26879	NA
GREEN MOUNTAIN	Oregon	11 Miles N of Prineville, OR	400	0%
Beachcomb	Oregon	4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR	13648	0%
Brewer Fire	Oregon	15 Miles E of Madras, OR	51308	5%
Shingle Fire	Oregon	14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR	53976	0%
Coleman Creek	Oregon	~8 miles southwest of Warm Springs Reservoir in Harney County, Oregon	130000	0%
Akawa Butte Fire	Oregon	13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR	27222	6%
East Evans Creek Fire	Oregon	14 Miles NE of Rogue River	15580	66%
Bald Mountain	Oregon	50 Miles SE of Burns, OR	8981	1%
Crater	Oregon	35 Miles S of Burns, OR	742	70%
Jackass Butte	Oregon	40 Miles S of Burns, OR	11396	10%
Stubble	Oregon	15 Miles SW of Lawen, OR	15673	70%
Second Flat	Oregon	Six miles NE of Riley, OR	25188	5%
Bologna Fire	Oregon	7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR	2421	44%
Bench	Oregon	4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR	20180	0%
Powder River Fire	Oregon	4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR	21058	84%
Fox Fire	Oregon	12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR	26445	0%
Salmon Fire	Oregon	34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR	1426	60%
Egypt Fire	Oregon	12 Miles N of Riley, OR	4595	68%
North Cayuse Fire	Oregon	15 miles east of Pendleton, OR.	4887	91%
Bradeen Hill Fire	Washington	Gifford, WA	3416	0%
Border 2 Fire	Washington	20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA	325	0%
Little Giant Fire	Washington	30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA	17902	0%
Railroad Fire	Washington	9 miles N of Mattawa, WA	8216	90%
Modrite Fire	Washington	17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA	9107	63%
Luna Fire	Washington	10 Miles north of Newhalem, WA	125	0%
Ptarmigan Fire	Washington	25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA	2500	0%
Kaiser Canyon Fire	Washington	Nespelem Okanogan / Kaiser Canyon	121417	9%
Mount Tom Creek Fire	Washington	Olympic National Park	69	75%
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	50%

Source: InciWeb

Tags: smoke forecast