Aug. 25, 2026: Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update

The current air quality across Missoula County is Good to Moderate. See current air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov.

Most air quality sensors remained at Good to Moderate levels yesterday, but a couple of sensors around Seeley Lake reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups for a few hours this morning. When air quality is Moderate it’s still a good time to be active outside for most people. When air quality increases to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher levels, reducing your exposure to smoke becomes much more important.

Air quality conditions from the EPA Fire and Smoke Map as of 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25

High pressure will bring hot temperatures, shifting winds, and chances for thunderstorms through tomorrow. Smoke impacts will predominantly be from nearby fires as atypical southeast winds transport smoke to Missoula County from fires to our south and east. Smoke from the Camp Creek Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness is forecast to impact areas around Seeley Lake and Condon. Smoke from the Nature Grove Fire east of Hamilton is forecast to impact areas around Lolo, Missoula, and Frenchtown.

Expect diurnal patterns of worsening air quality overnight as smoke settles into the valleys and improvements throughout the day as increased dispersion helps the smoke lift and mix out of the valleys. Smoke from the Moose Mountain, Grotto, and Cascade fires in Idaho could also impact Missoula County at times.  

HRRR model near-surface smoke forecast for 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, showing smoke from nearby fires impacting Missoula County.

Looking ahead, winds are forecast to increase and switch back to westerly on Thursday into the weekend. The increased winds will likely elevate fire activity and smoke production at regional fires. There are also signs of a cooler, more active weather pattern beginning this weekend into next week.

Air quality conditions can change rapidly, so be sure to check current conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov so you can make the best decisions for your health. If conditions are changing fast, check out the Hourly PM2.5 and Sub-Hourly graphs to get the latest data from each sensor. Take a look at this handy Air Quality Index Activity Guide for guidance on what to do at each level of the Air Quality Index.

If air quality worsens, remember that creating a clean indoor air space is the best way to reduce your exposure to smoke. You can either use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a MERV 13+ furnace filter attached to a box fan. For more information about ways to keep smoke out of your living space and reduce your exposure to smoke, explore the resources at MontanaWildfireSmoke.org.