Smoke Forecast for Thursday, July 30, 2026 9:00 AM
Current Conditions
Widespread smoke remains in places across the state Thursday morning. Thankfully, air quality has improved for most parts of Montana compared to earlier in the week. The main reason our air has improved is because the massive wildfires burning over Oregon and southwest Idaho aren’t as active as they were 48-hours ago.
The most active fire in the state on Wednesday was the Skillet Fire burning in Lincoln County, about 15 miles west of Olney. Smoke from this fire will impact communities along the Highway 93 corridor between Olney and Stryker, and the northern half of Glacier National Park. The Silvertip Fire burning in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, between Choteau and Flathead Lake, was active again on Wednesday. Smoke from this fire will continue to impact communities along the Hi-Line between Cut Bank and Chester. The fire mushroomed to over 4,000 acres on Wednesday and is burning in a challenging place for firefighters.
At 9:00 AM Thursday, particulate levels in Frenchtown are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Butte, Great Falls, Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Dillon, Libby, Missoula, Thompson Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Lewistown and Sleeping Giant are Moderate.
By Friday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows some pockets of heavier surface smoke over the northern half of Montana from regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Air quality continues to improve across much of Montana. The massive wildfires burning over Oregon and southwest Idaho aren’t as active as they were earlier in the week and aren’t producing quite as much smoke. However, several Montana wildfires have perked up thanks to hot, dry, and windy conditions over the last 48-hours. The Silvertip and Skillet Fires were the most active fires in the state on Wednesday. A persistent southwesterly flow will send smoke to communities downwind of these wildfires through Friday.
Enough monsoonal moisture remains in place through Friday to produce a few isolated afternoon or early evening thunderstorms. Gusty outflow winds between 40-50 miles per hour and the potential for lightning ignitions will be the biggest potential headaches from these storms.
On Saturday, a Pacific trough marches east across the state. The combination of gusty winds, low humidity, record warmth, and drying fuels will create critical fire weather conditions for much of the state. Unfortunately, the system will be mostly dry. Temperatures should plummet behind the front and highs will be 10 to 20 degrees cooler for Sunday and Monday. Temperatures quickly rebound starting Tuesday as high pressure builds back over Montana. Hot, dry, and windy conditions could significantly increase fire weather on any new or existing fires. 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.
Widespread smoke remains visible across much of the state early Thursday from regional wildfires, while a weak disturbance brings clouds and even some rain to the eastern third of Montana.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 12208 | 52% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Approx 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, ID, up the Smith Creek Drainage | 1648 | 13% |
| 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 | 923 | NA |
| Moose | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 159 | 0% |
| Twin Sisters Fire | Montana | 10 miles northwest of Judith Gap, MT | 101 | 40% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 105 | NA |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 304832 | 42% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 71213 | 10% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 301572 | 15% |
| Hat Fire | Oregon | 40 Miles East of Burns, OR | 44122 | 89% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon | 200292 | 90% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 64493 | 6% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 1727 | 0% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 3667 | 13% |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2584 | 89% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 100673 | 6% |
| 2026 Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 180688 | 0% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2425 | 89% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 838 | 95% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 7 miles west of Wamic | 18136 | 0% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 763 | NA |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 31862 | 3% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27402 | 19% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 23643 | 26% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 84893 | 1% |
| East Evans Creek Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles NE of Rogue River | 15580 | 78% |
| Crater | Oregon | 35 Miles S of Burns, OR | 745 | 93% |
| Stubble | Oregon | 15 Miles SW of Lawen, OR | 15673 | 87% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1426 | 67% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 60271 | 22% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29489 | 50% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17483 | 77% |
| 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 | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4168 | 0% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 10527 | 0% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 25407 | 0% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 197 | 25% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 11766 | 63% |
| Kaiser Canyon Fire | Washington | Nespelem Okanogan / Kaiser Canyon | 128212 | 27% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 2500 | 0% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles north of Newhalem, WA | 330 | 0% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 14000 | 0% |
| 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