Aug. 2, 2026: Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update

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

Transport winds are now blowing from the west/northwest, as a ridge of high pressure moves east. These winds will carry smoke towards northwestern Montana from fires across Washington. We will also be impacted by wildfire smoke from local fires west of Missoula including the Elder 1 Fire southwest of Frenchtown and the Moose Mountain Fire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest northwest of Lolo Pass. Expect variable smoke today as winds shift. We may see a break from smoke throughout the day depending on local fire activity. The wildfires in Washington are producing large smoke columns that could degrade our local air quality overnight and into Monday morning. Air quality will likely be Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Check out regional fire information at Inciweb.wildfire.gov. 

In the GOES West Satellite Imagery from last night, you could see these smoke plumes starting to bend southeast towards Montana.

GOES West satellite imagery

As conditions change, keep tabs on the air quality index on the EPA Fire & Smoke Map. Although many of us still have plans to get outside and enjoy this beautiful yet smoky Montana summer, it’s extremely important to give your body a break from the smoke afterwards in a clean indoor air space.

Run a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a MERV 13+ furnace filter attached to a box fan in your living space to remove the tiny smoke particles that are known to cause several negative health risks. Wildfire smoke can be very visible outdoors especially when looking out over a distance because the tiny particles, or PM2.5 (particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or smaller), scatter light in all directions. Indoors, we can’t see PM2.5 but we know that smoke makes its way indoors through windows, doors, and cracks in buildings. So even if you can’t see it, it’s important to clean your indoor air to reduce your exposure and give yourself a break from wildfire smoke. If you’re balancing cooling down your home and trying to clean your indoor air, try bringing cool air inside in the late evening and again in the early morning when it’s coolest, closing your windows in between, and cleaning your indoor air. Learn more about the health risks or wildfire smoke at MontanaWildfireSmoke.org.

With the Moderate air quality, your local air quali-kitty, Mushu, will be getting outside for a little bit before resting inside with cleaned indoor air!