Western Wildfire Smoke Reaches Europe

Wildfire smoke that has plagued the West and Montana over the last several days has now extended across the Atlantic Ocean reaching Europe. Smoke and air quality will be an issue again on Thursday, with higher concentrations of smoke just west of the Continental Divide. Air quality will range from "moderate" for many areas east of the Divide, to "unhealthy" west of the Divide. An area of low pressure will move into the Pacific Northwest on Friday with cooler temperatures and widespread rain showers. Some rain is likely to fall on fires in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Northern California may even see some rain. This same storm will push into Montana late on Friday with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms over western areas late in the evening. Low pressure will move across the state on Saturday with widespread showers and thunderstorms. The moisture, the wind and the storm itself will help to filter out some of the smoke. Sunday will have some showers early on, especially up along the Hi-Line. Expect more sunshine and wind through the afternoon. While the smoke won't completely clear out, it will improve somewhat through the weekend into early next week. However, a return to a southwest flow will once again steer thick smoke back into Montana by Wednesday at the latest. Another storm next weekend could provide much needed rain again over wildfires throughout the West.
Have a nice day.
Curtis Grevenitz
Chief Meteorologist