Smoke Forecast for Monday, August 10, 2026 8:00 AM
Current Conditions
Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow counties in effect until 9AM on 08/11/2026.
An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the smoke event across central and western Montana due to local and regional wildfires.
Sunday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. The Bobcat Lakes Fire has burned more than 7,000 acres. The Sand Creek Fire has grown quickly over the last 48-hours, burning over 15,000 acres. The Moose and Black Bear fires, burning in the Sapphire Mountains between Georgetown Lake and the Bitterroot Valley, exhibited active fire behavior again on Sunday. The Moose Fire has burned nearly 4,500 acres. The Black Bear Fire has burned more than 1,800 acres. These fires will send smoke to downstream communities like Helena.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Columbia Falls, Frenchtown, Libby and Missoula are Unhealthy. Particulate levels in Billings, Dillon, Great Falls, Helena and Thompson Falls are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Butte, Cut Bank, Hamilton, Lewistown and Sleeping Giant are Moderate.
By Tuesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows pockets of surface smoke, but better mixing should provide areas with better air quality.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
The Northern Rockies will remain on the northern edge of a sprawling ridge of high pressure through Tuesday. Fire weather will be an issue thanks to hot, dry, and breezy conditions leading to active fires on established and emerging wildfires. Air quality remains degraded over the western half of the state largely due to massive active wildfires burning in Oregon and Washington. Expect better mixing Monday and Tuesday afternoon thanks to an approaching disturbance. This feature could bring better air quality depending on how active wildfires are over the region.
Much cooler air begins to arrive over Montana on Wednesday. An area of low-pressure sags south into the Treasure State from Canada, spreading showers and thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon. This will coincide with monsoonal moisture surging north out of the desert southwest. Clouds, cooler temperatures, and precipitation should begin to ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production on regional wildfires between Wednesday and Friday.
A southwesterly flow will continue into the upcoming weekend. This could transport smoke from upstream wildfires into the state, depending on wildfire activity. Additionally, this pattern will provide scattered showers and thunderstorms for the area with near normal temperatures anticipated. 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.
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 3417 | 32% |
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles SW of Secesh, ID | 170 | 0% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 831 | 0% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 158027 | 87% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 3300 | NA |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 85 | 0% |
| Chimney Fire | Idaho | 9 miles northwest of Fairfield, ID | 6521 | 80% |
| Claremont Fire | Idaho | 1 mile NE of Boise, Idaho | 6606 | 90% |
| Duncan | Idaho | 50 Miles SW of Mountain Home, ID | 16362 | 70% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1604 | 5% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3298 | 26% |
| Moose Fire | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 4544 | 0% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 7019 | 0% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 11697 | 1% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6221 | NA |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 30% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 225 | 0% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 20% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 513437 | 39% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 33970 | 0% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2425 | 96% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17488 | 89% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 88% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73101 | 86% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 89% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67071 | 86% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76160 | 93% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 57087 | 23% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3613 | 75% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 87% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 367847 | 79% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 2927 | 0% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 42699 | 11% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 79003 | 63% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 98% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1433 | 88% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27491 | 99% |
| Hat Fire | Oregon | 40 Miles East of Burns, OR | 44122 | 99% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon | 200292 | 97% |
| Anthony Fire | Oregon | 34 miles north of Baker City, OR | 2585 | 89% |
| Stubble | Oregon | 15 Miles SW of Lawen, OR | 15673 | 87% |
| Crater | Oregon | 35 Miles S of Burns, OR | 745 | 93% |
| Egypt Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles N of Riley, OR | 4595 | 68% |
| North Cayuse Fire | Oregon | 15 miles east of Pendleton, OR. | 4887 | 91% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138235 | 63% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | 19 miles northwest of Davenport, WA | 4518 | 94% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 5850 | 42% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4424 | 76% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57133 | 60% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 9944 | NA |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 22682 | 8% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 878 | 0% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 2000 | 0% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 141411 | 42% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 10582 | 0% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 111429 | 2% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 3583 | 0% |
| Palouse River Fire | Washington | Approximately 15 miles west of Colfax | 637 | 0% |
| Wells Road Fire | Washington | 3-5 Miles west of Malden | 1812 | 0% |
| Grand Park 2 Fire | Washington | Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA | 200 | 0% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 254 | 83% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast