The air quality in Thompson Falls and Libby has improved today, but Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality says 24-hour cumulative exposure in Thompson Falls remains “very unhealthy,” and in Libby the cumulative exposure reading is “unhealthy.”
Hourly particulate concentrations in Thompson Falls fell considerably starting at about 8:00 this morning, and have been falling less sharply most of the day in Libby. Those hourly readings have still not yet reached “healthy” levels in either town, however.
The bad air quality is due to ongoing wildfires in northwest Montana and northern Idaho. The DEQ’s forecast says a strengthening low pressure system heading this way Saturday, will bring an increased chance of precipitation in much of the region,and this will likely alleviate much of the smoke impacts.
