The skies above southwest Montana turned drastically smoky on Tuesday with Bozeman's Air Quality Index rising to "unhealthy" levels in the 150s.

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Air Quality Index numbers around Bozeman registered in the 140s and 150s on Tuesday afternoon.

NOTE: AQI numbers can change drastically and rapidly depending on wind and other weather elements.

According to the National Weather Service and the Department of Environmental Quality:

  • WHAT: AN AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT until at least Wednesday morning. Particulate levels will be re-evaluated at 9am on Wednesday morning. The Air Quality Alert may be extended at that time.
  • The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for Beaverhead, Carbon, Gallatin, Madison, and Park counties in effect until 9 AM 9/1/2021.
  • "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 1230 PM on Tuesday, particulate levels in Red Lodge are Unhealthy As of 1230 PM MDT, Particulate levels in Bozeman, Dillon, and West Yellowstone are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • As of 1230 PM on Tuesday, particulate levels in Billings, Butte, Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Hamilton, Helena, Libby, Missoula, Seeley Lake, Thompson Falls, White Sulphur Springs 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

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