This picture is from Portland, Oregon, taken on Thursday evening. I hope you have enjoyed the clear and clean skies because wildfire smoke from the Pacific coast is starting to head toward Montana. The upper level wind is beginning to shift from the east to the west and southwest. All of the wildfire smoke has been lurking in the eastern Pacific and just on the coast. This smoke will slowly begin to increase before a significant amount arrives late in the weekend. The smoke will not only cover the sky, but air quality will likely deteriorate for Sunday into early next week. So enjoy the clean air while we have it. Friday will be another gorgeous day with sunny skies and highs in the 70s and 80s. A little afternoon breeze out of the west and northwest will increase the fire danger. Saturday will be sunny, dry and warm. Some smoke will likely become visible in the sky. Sunday has the potential to be gross, with thick smoke moving into Big Sky Country. Highs will be in the 80s with an afternoon breeze up to 15mph. Fire danger will be high. Thick smoke will continue to work into the state early next week. Monday will be smoky with high fire danger as highs reach the 80s with stronger wind and lower humidity. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible on Tuesday but very dry weather will continue through most of next week.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist
