Montana Sees Slight Air Quality Improvement Amid Ongoing Wildfire Smoke
Montana Sees Slight Air Quality Improvement Amid Ongoing Wildfire Smoke
US · Published Jul 31, 2026
Air quality across Montana has shown slight improvement over the past 24 hours due to reduced activity from wildfires in Oregon and southwest Idaho, according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (Montana DEQ).
Air Quality Alerts expired Wednesday morning, with most reporting stations now observing moderate air quality levels.

Impact & Risks

Communities along the Hi-Line, including Cut Bank and Chester, are experiencing localized smoke impacts from the Silvertip Fire. Sensitive groups in Hamilton are advised to take precautions as particulate levels remain unhealthy. Moderate air quality is reported in several cities, including Missoula, Butte, and Helena. The lack of precipitation in the forecast, combined with dry fuels and gusty winds, raises the potential for new fire starts across Montana. If wildfire activity in Oregon and Idaho intensifies, air quality in Montana could deteriorate further.

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