Air quality is Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups across Missoula County due to smoke from Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires in Washington. The smoke rolled in early this morning on westerly transport winds, but this smoke episode should be short-lived, and we will likely see improved air quality this afternoon continuing into Saturday as transport winds shift to blow north-east.
When air quality in Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, those most at risk of smoke related symptoms are people with heart or lung disease, older adults (65+), children under the age of 18 (but younger children are at higher risk), pregnant persons, minority populations, outdoor works, and persons living outdoors. But even if you wouldn’t consider yourself in that list, smoke impacts everyone differently and it’s always smart to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke when the Air Quality Index reads Orange.
This weekend, despite a high-pressure ridge building over the Northern Rockies and Montana we should experience good ventilation helping disperse any residual wildfire smoke settled into valleys. With the weekend quickly approaching and potential travel plans on the table, be sure to check Fire.AirNow.Gov for the most up-to-date conditions across the country and download the EPA Fire and Smoke Map App. Keep an eye out for an update from MT DEQ for a state-wide smoke forecast (MT DEQ’s Smoke Forecasts).
Stubby and Hara, your local air quali-kitties, are going to make sure to take a few minutes to review past air quality updates to make sure they know the best ways to reduce their smoke exposure and any of those nasty negative health effects! Check out past updates here: Air Quality Updates.
