Smoke Forecast for Wednesday, July 29, 2026 9:30 AM
Current Conditions
Air Quality Alerts were allowed to expire Wednesday morning. Most reporting stations have seen improvements to air quality compared to 24-hours ago. The Oregon and Idaho wildfires responsible for most of the smoke across Montana have been less active than prior days. It is resulting in subtle improvements to air quality across the state.
The most active fire in the state on Tuesday was the Silvertip Fire burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, between Choteau and Flathead Lake. Smoke from this fire will continue to impact communities along the Hi-Line between Cut Bank and Chester. The fire mushroomed to 1,800 acres on Tuesday and is burning in a challenging place for firefighters.
At 9:00 AM Wednesday, particulate levels in Hamilton are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Dillon, Frenchtown, Libby, Missoula, Thompson Falls, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Lewistown and Sleeping Giant are Moderate.
By Thursday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light to moderate smoke covering much of the western half of the state from domestic and regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Air quality trends have been encouraging for much of the Montana over the last 24-hours. The wildfires responsible for the bulk of the surface smoke across the Treasure State are burning in Oregon and southwest Idaho. Recently, these fires have been less active and are producing a bit less smoke. As a result, air quality across Montana is slightly better compared to 24-hours ago. Unfortunately, transport winds remain southwesterly through Friday and Montana will continue to see smoke from Oregon and Idaho funneled into the state.
The ridge of high pressure begins to erode this weekend as a dry cold front marches across the state. This has the potential to produce dry thunderstorms over the mountains. With warm air, dry fuels, and gusty winds, any of these storms have the potential to spark new wildfires. Temperatures will drop considerably behind the front with afternoon temperatures 10-20 degrees cooler between Sunday and Monday.
Unfortunately, there is little to no precipitation in the forecast over the next week to 10 days. If wildfire activity picks up over Oregon and southwest Idaho, air quality will once again deteriorate over Montana. Unseasonably warm air, gusty winds, drying fuels, and low humidity will inevitably lead to new fire starts here in Montana as well. 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 Wednesday morning across much of Montana.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Approx 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, ID, up the Smith Creek Drainage | 1573 | 15% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 12208 | 15% |
| Chimney Fire | Idaho | 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID | 6521 | 80% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 280 | NA |
| Claremont Fire | Idaho | 1 mile NE of Boise, Idaho | 6606 | 90% |
| Duncan | Idaho | 50 Miles SW of Mountain Home, ID | 16362 | 70% |
| Elder 1 Fire | Montana | 7 Miles west of Frenchtown, MT | 661 | NA |
| Twin Sisters Fire | Montana | 10 miles northwest of Judith Gap, MT | 101 | 40% |
| East Side Fire | Montana | South of Red Lodge on the east side of Hwy 212 | 1219 | 100% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana, United States | 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 | 192501 | 90% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 29967 | NA |
| Hat Fire | Oregon | 40 Miles East of Burns, OR | 44122 | 50% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 146293 | 0% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 301000 | 7% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 3117 | 0% |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2560 | 89% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 84% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 59093 | 0% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2425 | 71% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 64493 | 6% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 300597 | 42% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 45119 | 3% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 1727 | 0% |
| East Evans Creek Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles NE of Rogue River | 15580 | 68% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27433 | 6% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1426 | 60% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17483 | 77% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29489 | 50% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 32137 | 1% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 7 miles west of Wamic | 13612 | 0% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 18539 | 22% |
| Stubble | Oregon | 15 Miles SW of Lawen, OR | 15673 | 87% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 86504 | 5% |
| Crater | Oregon | 35 Miles S of Burns, OR | 745 | 93% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 838 | 76% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 762 | NA |
| 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 | 4094 | 0% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 24361 | 0% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles north of Newhalem, WA | 325 | 0% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 1500 | 0% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 185 | 5% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 8554 | 0% |
| Pearl Hill | Washington | 10 miles SE of Bridgeport, Washington | 8058 | 81% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 11040 | 63% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 10878 | 0% |
| Kaiser Canyon Fire | Washington | Nespelem Okanogan / Kaiser Canyon | 126402 | 16% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| 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