Tag: #wildfire
Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 26, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.
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 […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 8, 2025 at 4:10 p.m.
Air quality is Good to Moderate across Missoula County which is a welcome reprieve from the smoke that resulted in Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy air quality Saturday evening and most of Sunday. A southwesterly flow is forecasted for this week which relieves us of smoke transporting south from Canada towards Missoula County, thankfully. […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 5, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Moderate across Missoula County, but more air quality monitors are Yellow (Moderate) than Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) which I’d say is a slight improvement. Still, the smoke is quite noticeable out there and if you’re feeling a little sluggish today or have a headache, sore throat, […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 4, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.
Air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Moderate across Missoula County. The MT Department of Environmental Quality issued another Air Quality Alert for Missoula County in effect now until 9AM tomorrow (9/5/25) (explained in yesterday’s update). When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or Orange on the Air Quality Index, sensitive groups should […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 3, 2025 at 1:45 p.m.
The hotter temperatures have increased wildfire activity immensely and wildfire smoke is spread out across the county resulting in Moderate air quality throughout. This heat wave and high-pressure ridge are peaking this afternoon. Winds are forecasted to shift easterly instead of westerly which should relieve us of the smoke the westerly winds are carrying towards […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: August 29, 2025 at 11:15 a.m.
The wetting rains have really helped damper the fire behavior, and thankfully, minimal smoke made it into Missoula County this past week. Air quality fluctuated between Good and Moderate which is where we are still currently sitting. As far as the fires with the highest chance of sending smoke to the Missoula area, firefighters have […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: August 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Weekend air quality wavered between Good and Moderate across the County and some areas even tipped into air quality that was Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or Orange for a short period of time (Petty Creek!). Wildfires remained active over the weekend and high temperatures are in the forecast before rains come through later this week; […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: August 22, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Incoming air quality update! It’s been quite the blue bird summer with skies only clouding with smoke occasionally. Today, smoke from several surrounding fires is causing Moderate air quality across the County, specifically in Missoula, Frenchtown, and Seeley Lake. Good air quality is already returning (check out the GOES 18 satellite imagery below for comparison […]
Read MoreMissoula County Encourages Preparation During Fifth Annual Wildfire Smoke Ready Week
As our temperatures heat up, so do wildfire risks. And with fire, wildfire smoke inevitably creeps into the valleys. Local public health experts, climate advocates, and local government encourage Missoula County residents to educate and prepare themselves for the hazards of wildfire smoke during Wildfire Smoke Ready Week July 12-19. A proclamation from the Missoula County Commissioners and […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke (Mini) Update October 11-13, 2024
This is a mini update for the weekend of October 11-13! It smells a bit smoky out there and the Air Quality Index in Missoula and Frenchtown is currently Moderate trending up. Air Quality in Seeley Lake is Good. Smoke from fires in Idaho and Montana is draining into the Missoula Valley as the afternoon […]
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