Smoke Forecast for Friday, August 14, 2026 9:30 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 remains mostly good to moderate statewide early Friday. Thursday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires continued burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains. An Air Resource Advisor has been deployed to the Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires. Links to these products will be posted here when it becomes available. Thankfully, a widespread, soaking rain fell across southwest Montana on Thursday. Between a quarter and a half an inch of rain fell on the wildfires burning in the Pioneer and Sapphire Mountains.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Frenchtown and Great Falls are moderate.
By Saturday 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
Beneficial rain fell on much of the state on Thursday. This continues to moderate fire behavior on regional blazes and reduce smoke production. Several additional rounds of precipitation are likely again on Friday, including scattered thunderstorms. The strongest storms will produce very heavy rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds.
High pressure builds over Montana this weekend and early next week. However, a southwesterly flow will pump moisture into the region, setting the stage for scattered afternoon thunderstorms. While any precipitation will help to moderate wildfire activity, southwesterly transport winds will help to pump wildfire smoke from Oregon and Washington back into the Treasure State. While Montana has received beneficial rain over the last 24-hours, little to no precipitation has fallen on central and eastern Washington and Oregon where multiple, large wildfires continue to burn.
The persistent southwesterly flow will gradually moderate temperatures across the state into next week, with above normal highs likely. Monsoonal moisture will continue to surge north into the state throughout the upcoming week. This should produce nearly daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. 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.
Friday morning’s satellite image reveals a trough over the Northern Rockies and less smoke from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles SW of Secesh, ID | 161 | 75% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 3600 | 35% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | Approximately 7 miles NE of Clark Fork, ID. | 110 | 0% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 2103 | 7% |
| 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% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1776 | 5% |
| Moose Fire | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 5678 | 0% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3357 | 47% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 27736 | 0% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 9768 | 6% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6681 | NA |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 60% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 97% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 2145 | 20% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 54484 | 11% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 4433 | 0% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 53061 | 6% |
| Grasshopper Fire | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 86974 | 20% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 373783 | 84% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76443 | 93% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 90% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 90% |
| Little Bear | Oregon | 8 Miles NE of Mt. Vernon, OR | 67 | 55% |
| Cottonwood Fire | Oregon | 15 miles southwest of Long Creek, Oregon | 722 | 88% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 4743 | 53% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73179 | 82% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17459 | 88% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho | 581325 | 54% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3613 | 94% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 78903 | 90% |
| 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% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 14336 | 2% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 3600 | 0% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138282 | 82% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 151850 | 42% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57681 | 80% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 6726 | 88% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4417 | 92% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 9932 | NA |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 128085 | 7% |
| Grand Park 2 Fire | Washington | Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA | 167 | 0% |
| Alpowa Fire | Washington | 8 miles West if Clarkston, WA | 1347 | 50% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 3900 | 0% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 1211 | 0% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 24057 | 8% |
| Mitre Rock Fire | Washington | 19 miles northwest of Davenport, WA | 4518 | 100% |
| Palouse River Fire | Washington | 2 Miles E of Colfax, WA | 637 | 100% |
| 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