Program Overview
The Purpose of Montana’s ambient air monitoring network is to monitor, assess and provide information on statewide air quality conditions and trends as specified by the Montana and Federal Clean Air Acts. The Air Quality Monitoring Program works in conjunction with local air pollution agencies and some industries, measuring air quality throughout Montana. This data provides the factual basis for regulatory decisions as well as provides air quality information to our local counterparts and the public.
Air Quality Monitoring Contacts
Air Main
FAX (Helena)
(406) 444-1499
Air Program Contacts
Air Quality Monitoring Section
(406) 444-6695
Annual Emission Inventory/Compliance Data - Point Sources
(406) 444-2742
Air quality information is provided on todaysair.mtdeq.us. This site displays particulate concentrations and health effects for particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter. This information is measured by monitoring equipment located throughout the state. The NowCast air quality concentrations are measured against health effect categories to provide a snapshot of the severity of impacts in your location. Concentrations are updated at 15 minutes past the hour at all stations. The most recent data displayed is the average particulate concentration measured over the previous hour.
For those counties with air quality programs using averaging times beyond the 1-hour average concentration of PM2.5 in issuing air quality alerts, an alternate data tool is under development which will address these data needs and is scheduled for release around the mid-December timeframe. Additional information regarding this tool will be provided in the near future. In the meantime, 1-hour average PM2.5 ambient monitoring data from all stations is available from Today’s Air or the Montana Data Portal for calculating longer average periods.
Recommendations for Outdoor Activities
Wildfire season can frequently coincide with outdoor activities. The Departments of Health and Human Services and Environmental Quality have developed guide to help you make decisions about outdoor sporting events when air quality is a concern.
- Face away from the sun.
- Determine the limit of your visible range by looking for targets at known distances (miles).
- Visible range is that point at which even high contrast objects totally disappear.
- Use the values below to determine the local forest fire smoke category.
| Health Effects Categories | Visibility Ranges (miles)3 |
|---|---|
| Hazardous | Less than 1.3 |
| Very Unhealthy | 2.1 - 1.3 |
| Unhealthy | 5.0 - 2.2 |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 8.7 - 5.1 |
| Moderate | 13.3 - 8.8 |
| Good | 13.4 + |