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 progresses. The Railroad-Daly Fire, which has grown to 10,934 acres, is producing the most smoke locally. Keep an eye on fire.airnow.gov for the most up to date air quality data including AQI and PM2.5 levels over the weekend.
This weekend, a ridge of high pressure over western Montana brings unseasonably warm temperatures and poor dispersion which may spur wildfire activity impacting air quality. Forecasts show less smoke moving towards Missoula this weekend, but don’t be surprised if smoke down drains into Missoula in the evenings. Smoke is more likely to impact the Bitterroot Valley than the Missoula Valley this weekend. By Saturday night, winds are forecasted to shift southerly dispersing smoke away from Missoula County. On Monday and Tuesday, the airsheds open up to allow more mixing and will likely move any smoke out of the area if present.
Check out montanawildfiresmoke.org on ways to stay healthy when wildfire smoke is in the air! Also, read the Smoke Forecasts by MT DEQ for smoke forecasts on the entire state.
Air Quality as of October 11th, 2024 at 4:30pm. Photo from fire.airnow.gov.
