Air Quality Alerts and red flag warnings have been issued for tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday, September 7, 2022) covering much of south-central western Montana, including Missoula & Ravalli counties.
The main source of smoke in the Bitterroot & Missoula valleys appears to be from the Trail Ridge Fire a 2,900 acre fire on the border of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Bitterroot National forests south east of Sula, but several other fires, including the Hog Trough fire near Skulkaho in Hamilton, the South Fork fire, and the Mill Lake fire. Wildfires in Idaho and Oregon also may be adding to our smoke.
The satellite photo above, taken around noon-time on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, shows overhead smoke across west central and southwest Montana as well as smoke trapped in valleys across the region.