Air quality advisory in effect for portions of eastern Idaho as wildfire smoke lingers
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS — As wildfires continue to burn in eastern and western Idaho, smoke is in the air, with some parts of our region experiencing unhealthy levels.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for Bannock, Bingham, Caribou, Oneida and Power counties, as smoke has lowered the air quality to unhealthy levels.
Under this advisory, those counties are prohibited from open burning.
People in sensitive groups may experience health effects, while the general public may be less affected. DEQ also recommends that residents limit their time outside.
EastIdahoNews.com spoke with Jason Hart, airshed coordinator for Idaho DEQ, who said the smoke is coming from various parts of the northwest U.S. The main source of the smoke is Oregon, Washington and eastern Idaho.
The current advisory is expected to last until Wednesday, and Hart said that he expects the smoke to linger in the region for the next few days.
DEQ is expected to update its air quality advisory on Tuesday morning.
Idaho Falls and Rexburg are in the moderate range for air quality. Both cities are expected to have patchy smoke until Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Pocatello.
As eastern Idaho enters a cold dry front, Hart said the weather system is changing how quickly the smoke moves through the air.
He said that, unlike last week, when the smoke dissipated as quickly as it arrived, this new weather pattern is keeping the smoke here.
NWS Meteorologist Jack Messick told EastIdahoNews.com last Friday that, with this dry cold front moving into the area, aside from intense winds and low humidity, it will also lower temperatures.
According to a Facebook post by the NWS, temperatures in eastern Idaho will remain in the low to high 80s Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures reaching back into the low 90s by Wednesday evening.
While this break in the hot temperatures seen over the weekend will be a reprieve for residents of eastern Idaho, the hot temperatures on Saturday broke records for Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Burley and Challis.
Pocatello saw the hottest day at 103 degrees; Idaho Falls reached 101 degrees; and Burley and Challis both reached 100 degrees.
This weather-related story is brought to you by Pony Express Car Wash, Idaho's premier express car wash destination, renowned for its commitment to exceptional service and quality. Voted the No. 1 car wash company in Idaho for five consecutive years, we pride ourselves on delivering an unparalleled experience for every vehicle and customer. Our state-of-the-art facility utilizes name-brand soaps and cutting-edge equipment to ensure your car receives the ultimate clean. Established in eastern Idaho in 2019, Pony Express is proud to be a locally owned and operated company that caters to the unique car washing needs of our Idaho Friends and neighbors. We invite you to experience the difference at Pony Express, where your satisfaction is our ultimate goal.