As wildfire season rages, Boise may finally see blue skies again this week. Here’s when
Wildfire smoke conditions gradually improved over the weekend in Boise after some of the worst air quality in the nation last week.
But as of Monday morning, clear blue skies remained elusive to Boiseans, with thick smoke still hanging over the Treasure Valley. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality lifted its air quality forecast to “moderate” Monday, indicating it’s acceptable to go out unless someone is especially susceptible to wildfire smoke.
But when will the smoke completely clear out in Boise? It could be sooner than people expect.
Where is the wildfire smoke coming from?
As has been the case for much of the 2024 wildfire season, the worst smoke affecting Boise has originated from wildfires that are not in Idaho.
Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise, told the Idaho Statesman that the three fires sending smoke to Boise were the Telephone, Falls and Crazy Creek fires, all of which are in Oregon.
Here’s what to know about each fire as of Monday morning, according to the federal government’s Incident Information System:
Telephone Fire: The Telephone Fire has been burning since July 22, about 16 miles northeast of Burns. The fire has burned 53,989 acres and is 64% contained, but officials expect to have the fire contained by Thursday.
Falls Fire: The extensive Falls Fire has burned 150,941 acres since it began July 10, about 20 miles northwest of Burns. It is 87% contained, and incident team officials expect to have it fully contained by Aug. 20.
Crazy Creek Fire: Fire officials have already contained 60% of the Crazy Creek Fire, which has burned 82,279 acres since it began July 22, about 16 miles north of Paulina. But despite its containment level, officials don’t expect it to be fully contained until Sept. 20.
Storms last week also helped spark multiple wildfires throughout Idaho.
The Paddock Fire, which started Aug. 5 about 20 miles north of Emmett, has burned 187,185 acres and is only 16% contained. The smaller Snag Fire, which started on the same date about 11 miles east of Cascade, has burned 13,050 acres but is 0% contained. Fire incident officials do not expect it to be fully contained until Sept. 15.
But Macfarlane said smoke from those Idaho fires is unlikely to impact the Treasure Valley because the Boise Mountains are sheltering Southwest Idaho.
When will the smoke leave Boise?
It may be hard to believe, but Boise may have clear skies by Tuesday morning.
The Weather Service forecasts thunderstorm activity to move into Southwest Idaho on Monday night and remain Tuesday.
“The winds later today are going to wash some of (the smoke) out,” Macfarlane said. “And then the storms overnight into Tuesday, and the continued winds, are going to keep the smoke light.”
Storms across the region are expected to move in starting around 11 p.m. and be a slight threat until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Macfarlane said Boise’s best chance of seeing thunderstorms is between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Winds associated with the storms are a significant factor in pushing out any lingering smoke. Macfarlane said wind gusts in Boise could reach 25 mph, while slightly stronger winds will be observed farther south of the city.
“But with the number of fires going on, I think it’s worth keeping the smoke in mind,” Macfarlane said. “It’s definitely not out of the question for it to return at some point in the future.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2024 at 12:40 PM.
