Smoke Forecast for Thursday, August 13, 2026 9:00 AM
Current Conditions
An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the smoke event across central and western Montana due to local and regional wildfires.
Air quality has improved significantly statewide compared to 24-hours ago. Wednesday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. However, clouds, cooler air, and even some light rain fell on these blazes late Wednesday, reducing smoke production. The Bobcat Lakes Fire has burned more than 9,000 acres. The Sand Creek Fire has burned over 27,000 acres. The Moose and Black Bear fires, burning in the Sapphire Mountains between Georgetown Lake and the Bitterroot Valley, also received some light rain on Wednesday. The Moose Fire has burned over 5,500 acres. The Black Bear Fire has burned more than 2,100 acres.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Dillon, BozemanMissoula, Great Falls, and Billings are moderate.
By Friday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows less surface smoke over the state thanks to clouds, cooler air, and much-needed precipitation.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Clouds, cooler air, and scattered precipitation have begun to ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production on regional wildfires. As a result, air quality has improved over most of the state. However, Wednesday’s storms did produce a lot of lightning, and there will likely be new fire starts popping up in the next 24-hours. A secondary surge of moisture will bring additional precipitation to the area on Thursday, with the highest amounts focused on southwest Montana.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will linger into the day on Friday. The strongest storms will be capable of heavy rainfall, frequent lightning, and gusty winds. Afternoon temperatures will remain a few degrees cooler than normal. Smoke impacts will largely be localized, terrain-driven, and adjacent to wildfires.
An area of high pressure builds over the region this weekend. This should lead to moderating temperatures across the state. Monsoonal moisture will stream north into the Treasure State into early next week. This will lead to daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. Unfortunately, this southwesterly flow will begin to pump smoke back into the state from the massive wildfires burning in Washington and Oregon. 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.
Thursday morning’s satellite image reveals clouds and less smoke across Montana.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 2103 | 7% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 3600 | 30% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | Approximately 7 miles NE of Clark Fork, ID. | 110 | 0% |
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles SW of Secesh, ID | 189 | 40% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1696 | 5% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 158027 | 98% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 3300 | NA |
| 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 | 5678 | 0% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 9680 | 0% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 27736 | 0% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3383 | 39% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 97% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 60% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 2106 | 20% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6681 | NA |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho | 579366 | 34% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 53032 | 6% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 53306 | 11% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 3946 | 0% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 373777 | 79% |
| Grasshopper Fire | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 85114 | 20% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 90% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 90% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 4743 | 36% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76443 | 93% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73015 | 86% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17488 | 86% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3613 | 87% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 78903 | 90% |
| Cottonwood Fire | Oregon | 15 miles southwest of Long Creek, Oregon | 722 | 71% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| 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% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 152921 | 37% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 9932 | NA |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57788 | 76% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138272 | 81% |
| Grand Park 2 Fire | Washington | Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA | 167 | 0% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 3900 | 0% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4419 | 74% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 6726 | 88% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 1211 | 0% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 3305 | 0% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 24057 | 8% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 127488 | 5% |
| Alpowa Fire | Washington | Lewis Clark Valley | 1400 | 0% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | 19 miles northwest of Davenport, WA | 4518 | 100% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 13604 | 0% |
| Wells Road Fire | Washington | 14 Miles NE of St John, WA | 1865 | 78% |
| 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