Smoke Forecast for Tuesday, August 11, 2026 9:30 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 08/12/2026.
An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the smoke event across central and western Montana due to local and regional wildfires.
Monday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. The Bobcat Lakes Fire has burned more than 8,500 acres. The Sand Creek Fire has grown quickly over the last 48-hours, burning over 19,000 acres. It is now burning atop Maverick Mountain with evacuation orders for Elkhorn Hot Springs and the Maverick Mountain area. These fires will continue sending smoke to communities downstream like Whitehall and Bozeman on Tuesday. The Moose and Black Bear fires, burning in the Sapphire Mountains between Georgetown Lake and the Bitterroot Valley, exhibited active fire behavior again on Monday. The Moose Fire has burned over 5,000 acres. The Black Bear Fire has burned more than 1,900 acres. These fires will send smoke to communities like Helena. Despite numerous active wildfires burning in the state, the bulk of the surface smoke over Montana is the result of massive wildfires burning in Oregon and Washington.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Missoula are Unhealthy. Particulate levels in Dillon, Frenchtown, Great Falls and Hamilton are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Particulate levels in Billings, Butte, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Helena, Lewistown, Libby, Malta, Thompson Falls and West Yellowstone are Moderate.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows less surface smoke over western Montana thanks to an approaching area of low pressure and cooler air.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Montanans can expect one more hot day with active fire weather on Tuesday. Hot, dry, and windy conditions will bring elevated fire weather to the region. This will lead to rapid fire spread on established and emerging wildfires. Afternoon wind gusts will reach 30-40 miles per hour. Better mixing could bring improving air quality to some Montana airsheds by Tuesday afternoon and evening.
An area of low pressure pushes into the state on Wednesday. At the same time, monsoonal moisture will surge north into Montana. Clouds, cooler temperatures, and scattered precipitation will help to ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production. Expect better air quality across the region starting Wednesday. A cold front will move across the state Wednesday night and early Thursday. This should further help provide relief from dense surface smoke.
The best window for widespread beneficial rainfall for the region is between Wednesday night and Thursday. A southwesterly flow returns to Montana between Friday and the weekend. This should bring daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. Despite the precipitation, this is unlikely to be the season ending event many of us hoped for. 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 remains visible across much of the state early Tuesday from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 158027 | 89% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 3417 | 32% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 108 | 0% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 1047 | 0% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1604 | 5% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 3300 | NA |
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles SW of Secesh, ID | 170 | 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% |
| Moose Fire | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 5136 | 0% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 8521 | 0% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 19683 | 1% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3321 | 28% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 1469 | 0% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 30% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 40% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6501 | NA |
| Elder 1 Fire | Montana | 7 Miles west of Frenchtown, MT | 1235 | 100% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 79000 | 69% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 553972 | 35% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 51687 | 0% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76160 | 93% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 89% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 90% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3613 | 75% |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 72476 | 23% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73016 | 86% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17488 | 89% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 371549 | 84% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 46527 | 11% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 3155 | 0% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 3860 | 30% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 98% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 87% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67071 | 86% |
| 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% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57788 | 62% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 6504 | 35% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 3692 | 0% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 2923 | 0% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 9944 | NA |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138213 | 63% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 147715 | 42% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 111429 | 2% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 11618 | 0% |
| Palouse River Fire | Washington | 2 Miles E of Colfax, WA | 637 | 40% |
| Wells Road Fire | Washington | 14 Miles NE of St John, WA | 1812 | 0% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4419 | 74% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 23467 | 8% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | 19 miles northwest of Davenport, WA | 4518 | 94% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 878 | 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