Aug. 24, 2026: Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update
Posted on August 24, 2026
The current air quality across Missoula County is Good to Moderate. See current air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov.
Air quality conditions from the EPA Fire and Smoke Map as of 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 24.
Air quality remained at Good to Moderate levels across Missoula County over the weekend. Thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday provided some beneficial rainfall, but also caused new fire starts from lightning. Strong west winds yesterday increased fire activity at many regional fires, but we didn’t experience significant smoke impacts in Missoula County.
GOES West Satellite imagery from 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.
High pressure will build over the region through Wednesday bringing increasing temperatures and light, shifting winds. Air quality conditions over the next few days will likely be variable and localized, following diurnal patterns. Expect worsening air quality overnight as smoke settles into the valleys and improvements throughout the day as increased dispersion helps the smoke lift and mix out of the valleys. Shifting east winds could bring smoke from the Camp Creek Fire to Missoula County, especially around Seeley Lake and Condon. There are fires around Missoula County in several directions, so depending on which direction the wind blows, smoke could arrive from different fires. Thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday could lead to more fire starts.
HRRR model near-surface smoke forecast for 8 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, showing light smoke over Missoula County.
With variable air quality conditions it’s extra important to regularly check current conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov so you can make the best decisions for your health. If conditions are changing fast, check out the Hourly PM2.5 and Sub-Hourly graphs to get the latest data from each sensor. Take a look at this handy Air Quality Index Activity Guide for guidance on what to do at each level of the Air Quality Index.
If air quality worsens, remember that creating a clean indoor air space is the best way to reduce your exposure to smoke. You can either use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a MERV 13+ furnace filter attached to a box fan. For more information about ways to keep smoke out of your living space and reduce your exposure to smoke, explore the resources at MontanaWildfireSmoke.org.