Smoke Forecast for Monday, August 17, 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 remains mostly good to moderate statewide early Monday. Beneficial rain fell across parts of the state over the weekend, keeping wildfire activity in check.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Great Falls, Columbia Falls, Thompson Falls, and Libby are moderate.
By Tuesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light to moderate surface smoke over northwest Montana from regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Wildfire activity on most Montana blazes remains relatively low thanks to cooler temperatures and beneficial precipitation. However, there was quite a bit of lightning over the weekend from thunderstorm activity. As a result, we will likely begin to see new starts in the coming days from these storms.
Scattered storms are possible through Tuesday as a series of weak disturbances march across the Northern Rockies. Smoke from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia wildfires will continue to impact northern Montana over the next 48-hours, thanks to northwesterly transport winds. Communities between the Flathead and Kootenai Valleys will see the greatest impact from regional wildfires, with moderate air quality expected.
High pressure builds over Montana starting Wednesday, allowing temperatures to quickly moderate. Hot, dry, and windy conditions will lead to more active fire weather on the wildfires burning in southwest Montana and across the region. Unfortunately, this will inevitably lead to increased surface smoke across much of the state. 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.
Monday 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 2805 | 7% |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 3697 | 38% |
| Double Springs Fire | Idaho | 31 miles Northwest of Mackay , ID | 1779 | 18% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | Approximately 7 miles NE of Clark Fork, ID. | 110 | 0% |
| Lake | Idaho | 4 Miles SW of Secesh, ID | 161 | 100% |
| 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% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 31652 | 1% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 9791 | 10% |
| Moose Fire | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 5678 | 0% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3364 | 75% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | 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% |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6681 | NA |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 373784 | 89% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 5195 | 0% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 56419 | 14% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho | 578426 | 71% |
| Austin Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles SE of Estacada, OR | 2653 | 0% |
| Grasshopper Fire | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 90130 | 47% |
| Little Bear | Oregon | 8 Miles NE of Mt. Vernon, OR | 67 | 95% |
| Cottonwood Fire | Oregon | 15 miles southwest of Long Creek, Oregon | 722 | 95% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 4509 | 78% |
| Rosenbaum Fire | Oregon | 10 Miles NW of Spray, OR | 483 | 16% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 53628 | 51% |
| Fielder Mountain | Oregon | 1 mile west of Rogue River, OR | 573 | 29% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17459 | 88% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73179 | 89% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76443 | 93% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 90% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 90% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 3613 | 94% |
| 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% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138296 | 83% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 4475 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57639 | 90% |
| Grand Park 2 Fire | Washington | Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA | 167 | 57% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 1259 | 8% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 132990 | 10% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 152682 | 44% |
| Backbone | Washington | NA | NA | NA |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 14604 | 10% |
| Reevas Basin | Washington | 3 Miles SE of Tonasket, WA | 250 | 10% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 3603 | 2% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 24516 | 40% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 6726 | 96% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4417 | 92% |
| Alpowa Fire | Washington | 8 miles West if Clarkston, WA | 1347 | 100% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 9932 | NA |
| Wells Road Fire | Washington | 14 Miles NE of St John, WA | 1865 | 78% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 254 | 83% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast