Recent Smoke in Missoula Mostly From Prescribed Burns – Cold Front and Wind Likely to Clear the Air

It was a bit smoky in Missoula and around western Montana yesterday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Corby Dickerson said the smoke was mostly NOT from out of control forest fires:

"Because of the warm dry conditions in advance of a cold front and a cool, showery kind of weekend, a lot of the forest districts have decided to do some of their project burns," Dickerson said. "Conditions apparently are ideal for them and so a lot of the smoke we have been seeing is coming from prescribed burning.

Dickerson said we saw much clearer air today compared to Wednesday.

"There has been a little bit of a noticeable drop in air quality," Dickerson said. "The latest air quality monitor site reading from Missoula is showing it moderate and possibly unhealthy for sensitive groups, especially for those who have breathing conditions and whatnot. We fully anticipate these conditions should improve pretty dramatically over night so we get this cold front coming through and wash the atmosphere and disperse the smoke away."

Dickerson said more normal-like fall weather will begin this upcoming week.