TODAY'S AIR QUALITY

What is the air quality right now?

The best website is EPA's Fire.AirNow.Gov - this site shows fires, smoke, and PM2.5 from both permanent and temporary monitoring locations around the U.S. and Canada. You can set the site for your location and be sure to toggle on the smoke plumes. Click on the map, below. Scroll down for information on Purple Air maps.

What's the current AQI?



Click on this the "Air Now" widget. You can adjust for your location!  Get this gauge wherever you get your apps.

What is AQI?

The Air Quality Index highlights different categories of air quality ranging from good to hazardous. The higher the AQI, the unhealthier the air quality  and the more it will affect your health. Different color categories correspond to a different range of air quality with green being the best and maroon representing hazardous air quality. 

Why do neighboring monitors have different AQI numbers? 

It's a bit complicated. And so worth understanding. Learn all about this here.

Want daily Air Quality alerts?

Montana DEQ sends out air quality alerts via text or email whenever the air is of concern.  Learn more and sign up here.

Missoula County sends out localized alerts. Email airquality@missoulacounty.us to get on the list

Purple Air Maps

Lots of folks have Purple Air monitors and many are displayed on this Maps.PurpleAir.com. Note that the AQI from these monitors often run higher than the EPA regulatory monitors (which are the larger circles on Fire.AirNow.gov). The regulatory monitors are a more sophisticated machine and are most accurate. You can geek out about interpreting these differences HERE. Note also that the circles on Purple Air with borders are located INDOORS and those without borders are OUTSIDE. Indoor monitors do not show up on Fire.AirNow.

Where are the fires?


​Click on the image (right) for the MT DNRC Interactive Wildland Fire Map. This map shows the size and locations of wildfires in Montana, but does not display smoke plumes. 

no monitor?

If don't live close to air quality monitors, these visibility guidelines may help you gauge local smoke levels. Click HERE to see what the different categories mean and how they affect us.

Visibility Guidelines

Cannot see 5 miles? Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 2 miles? Very Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 1 mile? Hazardous Air

How to estimate air quality based on visibility:
  • Use pre-determined landmarks that were established on a clear day for distances.
  • Face away from the sun.
  • Determine the limit of your visible range by looking for targets at known distances (miles).

More  helpful maps and resources...

Image description
AIR NOW - Air Quality and Forecasts
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Air Now provides current and forecasted air quality information for Montana and other states across the U.S. Click on the link and bookmark the nearest town to you. Data is collected by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Hourly data on this site differs somewhat from Today's Air site because of data averaging.

​Visit the EPA's Smoke Ready Toolbox site for additional resources.

​what to do now?

Once you know what the air quality is like in your area, it's important to make decisions that will keep you healthy. Read about the health impacts of wildfire smoke here. Understanding the air outside and your potential health risks is only the first step. You likely have control over some of your health impacts. Learn when to exercise and how much, what air purifier to buy, how to ensure you have cleaner air in your home, and what to do if you have to stay outside by clicking through the other pages of this site.