As I am writing this, I am currently tending to a sick kid affected by the heavy wildfire smoke. The unhealthy air quality, mixed with seasonal allergies has made school and outdoor activities unbearable for my kiddo. Complaining of headaches and extreme congestion, it is safe to say wildfire season is not a favorite time of year for this kid.

It has been the question on everybody's minds. Where is the smoke coming from?

The fire season in Montana went from relatively quiet to choking on smoke in no time. The seasonal fires tend to bring heavy smoke to the surrounding valleys, but rarely this thick. It appears that a majority of the heavy smoke in Missoula and Bitterroot valleys is coming from fires burning nearby. Yet, there are some rather big fires burning in Idaho and Oregon that are also adding to the already unbearable smoke. It is clearly starting to affect the sensitive groups. It is even starting to affect me. The heavy smoke in the bitterroot valley has given me headaches, if I spend any time outside.

According to Missoula County Public Health Department's latest update, Missoula is still teetering between moderate and unhealthy. It all depends on the wind direction, and which fires are burning. Or whether an inversion is happening in the valley.

The Trail Ridge Fire and Mill Lake Fire poured smoke into the Bitterroot Valley overnight, and conditions are Unhealthy in Hamilton. Air quality generally improves as you move north up the Bitterroot, but it’s good to keep in mind that the Missoula Valley is downstream of Ravalli County, so smoke originating in the Bitterroot has the potential to flow toward Missoula right above the inversion layer.

The inversion in the valley is much of the reason why the smoke hangs around. Much like the cloudy skies in winter. Our valleys have a tendency to let clouds and smoke settle. Causing the smoke or clouds to become thick.

Keep checking with the Missoula County Health Department for daily updates on air quality due to wildfire smoke. Looking ahead, smoke is supposed to begin moving south of us starting Friday.

Montana's Top 10 Record-Setting Wild Weather Events

Montana is named Big Sky Country for several reasons, not only grandiose Sunsets but impressive weather events as well! Ask any Montana resident who has scoffed at the idea of tossing a blanket or snow shovel in the trunk of the car ” just in case”. Here is a list of Montana's Top 10 Record-Setting Wild Weather Events

Yellowstone National Park Rebuilds After Historic Flooding

After catastrophic flooding damaged portions of Yellowstone National Park in June of 2022, major reconstruction was necessary to make the park passable again. The following are photos of the improvement projects at Old Gardiner Road and the Northeast Entrance Road. All photos are courtesy of the National Park Service, photographer Jacob W. Frank.

More From 96.3 The Blaze