Smoke Forecast for Monday, August 3, 2026 10:00 AM
Current Conditions
Montana DEQ has issued an air quality alert for Lincoln, Flathead, Lake, Sanders, Mineral, Ravalli, Missoula, Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, and Silver Bow counties. The alert expires at 9AM on 08/4/2026.
Behind a cool front, the bulk of the smoke will focus on the western third of the state on Monday.
Sunday afternoon, the most active Montana wildfires were burning in the Pioneer Mountains and in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Silvertip Fire between Choteau and Flathead Lake was active again on Sunday. The Silvertip Fire has burned over 6,000 acres. There are two large fires burning in the Pioneer Mountains of southwest Montana. The Bobcat Lakes and Sand Creek Fires have each grown to over 1,000 acres. There are also several active fires burning on the Idaho side of the border in the Bitterroot Mountains. These fires will keep skies smoky over Ravalli and Beaverhead Counties through Tuesday.
At 9:00 AM Monday, particulate levels were Unhealthy in Libby, Missoula, Billings, Frenchtown, and Thompson Falls. Particulate levels in Columbia Falls and Butte were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
By Tuesday afternoon, the Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) smoke model shows strong winds pushing areas of near-surface smoke across the state from local and regional wildfires.
Source: HRRR-smoke
Forecast
Behind a cool front, a northerly flow will keep much of the heavy smoke out of central, northern, and eastern Montana on Monday. However, the same cannot be said for the western third of the state, where heavy smoke will remain a concern (see Air Quality Alert). Smoke from Washington and Idaho wildfires will continue to be transported into this part of the state, compromising air quality.
By Tuesday, high pressure begins to build back over the Treasure State followed by a warming trend. Smoke from regional wildfires will become more widespread across the state as the week goes on. The combination of drying fuels, warming temperatures, and gusty afternoon winds will contribute to active fire weather, particularly by the end of the week.
There are some signs that monsoonal moisture will lift north into Montana. This moisture could help to ease fire behavior and reduce smoke production. However, this pattern shift to our weather is likely more than a week away. In the meantime, expect surface smoke from regional and local wildfires to impact air quality for the foreseeable future. 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.
Behind a departing trough, widespread smoke remains visible across much of the state early Monday from regional wildfires.
Source: NOAA
| Incident Name | State | Location | Acres | Containment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incident | State | location | acres | containment |
| Upper Smith Fire | Idaho | Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho | 2191 | 40% |
| Tartar | Idaho | 21 Miles NW of Weiser, ID | 97143 | 16% |
| Porcupine Fire | Idaho | NA | 10 | 0% |
| Cascade | Idaho | 22 miles East of Lowell, Idaho | 1500 | NA |
| Moose Mountain | Idaho | Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground | 190 | 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% |
| Skillet Fire | Montana | 15 miles west of Olney, MT | 1318 | 0% |
| Moose | Montana | 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg | 594 | 0% |
| Elder 1 Fire | Montana | 7 Miles west of Frenchtown, MT | 1234 | 44% |
| Bobcat Lakes | Montana | 12 miles east of Wisdom | 1561 | NA |
| Silvertip Fire | Montana | NA | 6029 | NA |
| Sand Creek | Montana | 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana | 1000 | NA |
| Ant Park | Montana | NA | NA | NA |
| North Fork Fire | Montana, United States | 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, MT, north of North Fork Lost Horse Creek | 116 | 0% |
| Butterfly Fire | Montana, United States | 12 miles East of Hamilton, MT | 50 | NA |
| Big Grass Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles CW of Jordan Valley, OR | 339432 | 19% |
| Hagen Fire | Oregon | 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 39777 | 11% |
| Paradise Fire | Oregon | 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon | 1318 | NA |
| Grasshopper | Oregon | 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR | 30729 | 0% |
| Rowe Creek Complex | Oregon | 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR | 323951 | 60% |
| Salmon Fire | Oregon | 34 Miles SW of Baker City, OR | 1426 | 76% |
| Castle | Oregon | 23 Miles NE of Tiller, OR | 2613 | 22% |
| Bob Creek Fire | Oregon | 1 mile north of Oxbow, OR | 851 | 72% |
| Akawa Butte Fire | Oregon | 13 Miles NE of Sisters, OR | 27435 | 85% |
| Powder River Fire | Oregon | 4 Miles SW of RICHLAND, OR | 21088 | 96% |
| Fox Fire | Oregon | 12 Miles NE of Huntington, OR | 78815 | 46% |
| Jackass Butte | Oregon | 40 Miles S of Burns, OR | 24724 | 78% |
| Bald Mountain | Oregon | 50 Miles SE of Burns, OR | 78239 | 37% |
| Second Flat | Oregon | Six miles NE of Riley, OR | 105432 | 40% |
| 2026 Coleman Creek | Oregon | ~1 mile southeast of Juntura | 264839 | 18% |
| Hat Fire | Oregon | 40 Miles East of Burns, OR | 44122 | 97% |
| Henry Fire | Oregon | 5 Miles S of PAULINA GUARD STATION, OR | 29871 | 73% |
| Coyote Fire | Oregon | 5 miles south of Post, OR | 17465 | 89% |
| Shingle Fire | Oregon | 14 Miles SE of Mitchell, OR | 70372 | 10% |
| Horse Ridge Fire | Oregon | 25 Miles East of Pendleton, OR | 860 | 95% |
| Bologna Fire | Oregon | 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR | 2425 | 96% |
| Hay Creek Complex | Oregon | Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco counties, Oregon | 200292 | 97% |
| Burnt Creek Fire | Oregon | 23 Miles N of Enterprise, OR | 4169 | 52% |
| Bench | Oregon | 4 miles south of Warm Springs, OR | 67238 | 66% |
| 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% |
| Ptarmigan Fire | Washington | 25 Miles NW of Mazama, WA | 14047 | 0% |
| Spokane Area Fires | Washington | Spokane County, Washington | 8026 | 0% |
| Little Giant Fire | Washington | 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA | 51298 | 0% |
| Sinlahekin Fire | Washington | 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA | 73794 | 0% |
| Skyo Fire | Washington | 3 Miles SW of Packwood, WA | 254 | 69% |
| Kaiser Canyon | Washington | 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA | 136422 | 38% |
| Bradeen Hill Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Colville, WA | 4300 | 7% |
| Modrite Fire | Washington | 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA | 49895 | 17% |
| Luna Fire | Washington | 10 Miles north of Newhalem, WA | 950 | 0% |
| Border 2 Fire | Washington | 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA | 5028 | 0% |
| Mount Tom Creek Fire | Washington | Olympic National Park | 69 | 75% |
| B and O Fire | Washington | 23200 Block of State Route 20, Okanogan, Washington | 2762 | 95% |
| Chelan Hills | Washington | 1 Mile N of Orando | 9735 | 75% |
Tags: smoke forecast