Smoke Forecast for Tuesday, August 18, 2026 9:00 AM
Current Conditions
An Air Resource Advisor has been assigned to the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes Fires.
Air quality remains mostly good to moderate statewide early Tuesday. Additional precipitation fell across parts of the state on Monday, moderating regional fire behavior. Clouds, cooler temperatures, and recent precipitation has limited smoke production on Montana’s wildfires.
As of 8 AM, particulate levels in Great Falls, Frenchtown, Columbia Falls, Thompson Falls, and Libby are moderate.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows light to moderate surface smoke over parts of the state from regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Wildfire activity across the state has been limited thanks to clouds, cooler air, and beneficial precipitation. As a result, smoke production has been minimal on the wildfires of concern, including the Sand Creek and Bobcat Lakes fires burning in the Pioneer Mountains. The last of a series of disturbances will march across the state on Tuesday, triggering another round of scattered thunderstorms.
High pressure builds over the state starting Wednesday. Unseasonably warm air, drying fuels, and breezy afternoon winds will produce near-critical fire weather conditions through Friday. Expect regional wildfires to perk up in response, producing increasing amounts of surface smoke for much of the state. By the end of the week, transport winds will become more southwesterly. This will start pushing additional smoke from Oregon and Idaho wildfires back into Montana.
By this weekend, a trough moves across the Treasure State, bringing the next best chance for precipitation. Clouds, cooler air, and scattered thunderstorms should help to ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production. Unfortunately, forecast models aren’t overly bullish on a widespread soaker from this event. A ridge is expected to build back over the region by next Monday, bringing another drying and warming trend. 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.
Tuesday 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 2805 | 7% |
| 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% |
| Moose Fire | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 5892 | 0% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 9892 | 19% |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 31667 | 2% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 3364 | 82% |
| North Fork Fire | Montana | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 118 | 70% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 67 | 97% |
| Black Bear Fire | Montana | 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT | 2145 | 20% |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6681 | NA |
| Fielder Mountain | Oregon | 1 mile west of Rogue River, OR | 573 | 38% |
| Austin Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles SE of Estacada, OR | 2901 | 0% |
| Grasshopper Fire | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 90768 | 49% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105501 | 90% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 373784 | 89% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 76443 | 93% |
| Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 308721 | 95% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 92% |
| Wrights Spring | Oregon | 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR | 53941 | 53% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 56869 | 17% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 5333 | 0% |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho | 579134 | 82% |
| Little Bear | Oregon | 8 Miles NE of Mt. Vernon, OR | 67 | 95% |
| Rosenbaum Fire | Oregon | 10 Miles NW of Spray, OR | 483 | 38% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29850 | 97% |
| Cottonwood Fire | Oregon | 15 miles southwest of Long Creek, Oregon | 722 | 95% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17459 | 88% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 4509 | 83% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 73183 | 91% |
| Picture Rock | Oregon | 3 Miles N of Summer Lake, OR | 1625 | 0% |
| 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% |
| Backbone | Washington | 7 miles north-east of Packwood, Washington | 15 | 0% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 57619 | 92% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 135985 | 10% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 7296 | 31% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 138298 | 86% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA | 4475 | 0% |
| High Lava Fire | Washington | 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA | 1359 | 8% |
| Grand Park 2 Fire | Washington | Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA | 167 | 57% |
| Reevas Basin | Washington | 3 Miles SE of Tonasket, WA | 250 | 40% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 153843 | 44% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 24647 | 55% |
| Three Queens | Washington | 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA | 3636 | 2% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| Hudspeth Fire | Washington | 3 miles northeast of Hunters, Washington | 6726 | 96% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4417 | 92% |
| 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