Hazy skies cover Sanders County

SANDERS COUNTY – Hazy skies settled over much of northwestern Montana earlier this week.

The smoky conditions led the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to issue to an air quality alert for Lincoln County.

Though, Lincoln County was the only county to receive an official air quality alert, surrounding areas also experienced decreased air quality.

Throughout the Flathead Valley, Seeley Lake, Missoula and Frenchtown air quality was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

According to Kristen Martin of DEQ the haze filling the skies of northwestern Montana was coming from several different fires including blazes burning in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and northern California.

The DEQ’s website indicated the biggest driver of smoke into the region is currently the Wolverine fire in Washington.

Martin added Lincoln County’s proximity to the fires in Washington had impacted the air quality throughout the area.

Throughout Sanders County the haze marked both Sunday and Monday, replacing the bright blue skies, which had been the norm for the county before the smoke moved in.   

Martin stated a high-pressure system had contributed to driving the smoke towards ground level throughout northwestern Montana.

“A ridge of high pressure tends to cause sinking air,” Martin said.

She noted a cold front moving through the region on Monday evening might improve conditions throughout the counties impacted by the haze from the fires.

Martin added though the more active weather pattern had a chance to clear up the smoky skies there may be some lingering haze in affected areas.

“It’s hard to say if it will clear it all,” Martin said.

Martin also said the increased winds may usher more smoke into the vicinity.

Regardless, of the impact on air quality the weather pattern moving through southern Canada is expected to drop temperatures into the 80s.

Last weekend proved warm for Sanders County as temperatures soared into the 90s on both Saturday and Sunday.