The current air quality across Missoula County ranges from Good to Moderate. See current air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov.
Last night, winds shifted to blow out of the east, which helped bring cleaner air into the region. Air quality has significantly improved compared to the last several days. With good to moderate air quality, it is a good day to be active outside for most people. Unusually sensitive people should consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath; these are signs to take it easier.
Current air quality conditions from the EPA Fire and Smoke Map are as of 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 13.
The easterly wind pattern is forecast to continue through tomorrow. Aside from localized impacts from nearby fires such as the Moose Mountain Fire, Silvertip Fire, Sand Creek Fire, and Bobcat Lakes Fire, generally improved air quality is expected to continue into tomorrow. The forecast also calls for cooler temperatures and chances of rain, which should help lessen the activity of local fires. However, lightning could create new fire starts.
Looking ahead, southwest flow is forecast to increase again over the weekend and into next week. That will likely bring smoke from Oregon, Idaho, and Washington back to the region. Those states are forecast to get less rain than western Montana over the next few days, so fires there will likely remain active.
Air quality can change rapidly, so it is always a good idea to check the latest air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov before heading out. It can also be important to take a closer look at the Hourly PM2.5 or the Sub-Hourly graph on the EPA Fire and Smoke Map to see what the most recent PM2.5 reading is, especially if conditions are changing quickly.
It would be a good day to take an air quali-kitty for a walk. Those interested in adopting a pet can visit Missoula Animal Services. Charlie could be an air quali-kitty.
This content is sourced from
Missoula Public Health
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
