The air quality in Missoula and Seeley Lake is Unhealthy and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Frenchtown.
The following was sent out by Missoula County:
A significant amount of smoke is blanketing the region today and the air quality is currently Unhealthy in Missoula and Seeley Lake and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in Frenchtown.
When air quality is Unhealthy, people with heart or lung disease, smokers, children and the elderly should limit heavy or prolonged exertion and limit time spent outdoors. People with asthma should follow their asthma management plan. People experiencing symptoms of heart or lung disease associated with smoke exposure should contact their health care provider.
When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, people with heart or lung disease, children and the elderly should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Anyone experiencing symptoms of heart or lung disease associated with smoke exposure should contact their health care provider.
I’m expecting conditions to stay pretty stable throughout the day with minor fluctuations between Unhealthy and Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. We might see some atmospheric mixing this afternoon, but there will still be a lot of overhead smoke when that happens, so air quality is unlikely to improve even after the inversions break.
The Crooks Fire burning in the Jocko has continued to actively burn, and last night fire protection personnel conducted a backburn to slow its spread. The combination of fire activity and intentional burning has sent a lot of smoke down the Jocko drainages. Air quality in Seeley Lake and the Arlee valley is still considered ‘Unhealthy,’ but it is worse than air quality in other parts of the Missoula County area. Hopefully, the Crooks Fire receives some beneficial rainfall tonight. It is our only local fire significantly impacting air quality. We’re headed toward regional improvements, but until it slows down, the Crooks Fire may lead to nightly smoke in both the Arlee and Seeley Lake areas.
The weather system coming through this evening will bring rain (and lightning, maybe!), but the rain isn’t what’s going to scrub our airsheds clean. It is very possible to have rain and smoke at the same time. Soggy smoke. Yum. (It may improve a bit, but probably not enough to bring the horizon into sharp focus.)
No, what’s going to clean our air is the shift in overhead winds from southwesterly to northwesterly, and that’s going to happen tonight. As the overhead winds shift, the smoke from California and Oregon will be forced south of Missoula County. Once we are no longer downwind of a large smoke source, our incoming air will be much improved. Currently, the weekend is looking to have pretty ok air!
Today, you should expect smoke, continued smoke, slightly lesser but damp smoke, less smoke, and then cleaner air. My feelings will not be hurt if I’m wrong and the smoke clears out sooner than overnight, but for now, plan for smoke through the day and early evening and possibly into the late-night hours.
The long-range forecast continues to keep our future overhead air coming from the west and northwest. This should translate into decent air quality going through the weekend and into next week. There are still fires burning to our west and northwest, but their smoke output has been less oppressive than fires farther south.
For now, cozy up to your air cleaners, limit your outdoor activities, and look forward to the weekend!
Pop on over to www.montanawildfiresmoke.org for great resources for staying healthy during wildfire smoke season and be sure to watch current air quality measurements at Montana’s Today’s Air website or EPA’s Fire and Smoke map!