Courtesy of the National Weather Service office in Great Falls
Air Quality Alert
Relayed by National Weather Service Great Falls MT
845 AM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021
…AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT…
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air
quality alert for Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon,
Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge,
Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley,
Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark,
Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula,
Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River,
Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders,
Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole,
Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and Yellowstone counties in
effect until 9 AM MDT 8/17/21 This alert will be updated again at 9
AM MDT 8/17/21.
An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending
upwards and that an exceedence of the 24 hour National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near
future.
As of 9 AM MDT, Particulate levels in Billings, Birney, Bozeman,
Broadus, Butte, Hamilton, Malta, Seeley Lake, and Thompson Falls are
Unhealthy
As of 9 AM MDT, Particulate levels in Columbia Falls, Cut Bank,
Dillon, Frenchtown, Great Falls, Helena, Lewistown, Missoula, Sidney,
and West Yellowstone are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
As of 9 AM MDT, Particulate levels in Libby are Moderate
When air quality is Unhealthy… State and local health officials
recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly,
and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should
limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups… State and local
health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart
disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
When air quality is Moderate… State and local health officials
recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion.
For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality at http://todaysair.mt.gov
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Great Falls MT 329 AM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 MTZ112>115-117-118-170030- /O.CON.KTFX.FW.W.0013.000000T0000Z-210817T0600Z/ Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty- Hill and Blaine Counties- Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District- Rocky Mountain Front-Chouteau and Fergus Counties- Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas- Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest- 329 AM MDT Mon Aug 16 2021 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR HOT TEMPERATURES, GUSTY WINDS, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, AND 118... * AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Glacier/Toole/Central/Eastern Pondera/Liberty, Hill and Blaine Counties, Lewis and Clark National Forest Rocky Mountain District-Rocky Mountain Front, Chouteau and Fergus Counties, Central and Eastern Lewis and Clark National Forest Areas and Helena and Townsend Ranger Districts of the Helena National Forest. * TEMPERATURES...Highs will reach the mid 80s to mid 90s this afternoon. * WINDS...West 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 percent. * IMPACTS...Any new or existing fire may be able to grow and spread rapidly in the dry and windy conditions. Conditions will moderate overnight, but critical fire weather conditions are expected during the day on Monday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in these areas of this Red Flag Warning.
