Air quality advisory remains in portions of east Idaho as wildfire smoke lingers
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IDAHO FALLS — After a smoky Monday, only a few parts of eastern Idaho are still under an air quality alert advisory, as some wildfire smoke lingers.
Butte, Custer and Lemhi counties will remain under the advisory due to degraded air quality, according to a Tuesday news release from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
It is recommended that residents of these counties who are sensitive to pollution — like young children, the elderly or people with respiratory problems — limit their time outside. There is enough smoke in the air to cause them to experience adverse health effects, DEQ said.
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Bonneville, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison and Teton counties are no longer under an air quality advisory, as conditions have improved in these areas. However, these counties are now listed under a moderate air quality advisory, meaning that there may still be some risk for individuals who are sensitive to pollution.
The smoke forecast from the National Weather Service in Pocatello shows that smoke will linger in eastern Idaho throughout the day, and its presence will be more noticeable later this evening.
The current advisory is scheduled to last through Thursday, with an update on conditions expected on from DEQ on Friday.
The weather service also notes that thunderstorms are possible in many areas in eastern Idaho on Tuesday. Driggs, Swan Valley and Pocatello will have upwards of a 30% chance of seeing lightning in the afternoon.
Temperatures are also expected to increase heading into Thursday, with places like Challis and Malad expected to see highs in the upper 90s.
National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Kaiser told EastIdahoNews.com that a silver lining to having smoke in the area is that it will keep temperatures down.
“It does look like we’re going to get back into the extreme heat, (until) mainly on Friday and Saturday,” Kaiser said on Monday.
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