TUESDAY: Montana’s Worst Air Quality Locations

The heat and the haze continue for the entire state of Montana this week. Air Quality Index numbers certainly fluctuate but at this point we're fluctuating between levels of 'bad'. Where are the hot spots today for poor air quality?

A rule of thumb for checking air quality if you don't have access to real-time date is this (Visibility Guidelines):

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

As of 12 noon on Tuesday, July 20th, 2021:

• Troy, MT (northwest Montana - Lincoln County): 160 = unhealthy
• Libby, MT (northwest Montana - Lincoln County): 140 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Anaconda (just north of town): 135 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Helena (Monroe Avenue): 131 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• NW of Whitefish, MT (Delrey Road): 126 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Thunderbird Island (northwest of Browning): 126 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• West Glacier: 124 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Kalispell: 124 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Thompson Falls: 123 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Big Timber (south of town): 118 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Hardin (north of town): 117 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Bozeman (north of town): 116 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Wolf Creek (north of Helena): 116 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Between Ennis and Virginia City: 116 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Missoula (north of town): 110 = unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Malta: 106 = unhealthy for sensitive groups

There are many good places to check online for real-time Air Quality Index numbers and other details about what kind of pollution is in the air at any given time. Some of the most reliable include:

• Montana Department of Environmental Quality: also known as "Today's Air"
• IQair.com: a great site to check air quality ANYWHERE in the world
• MontanaWildfireSmoke.org: good site for wildfire locations in addition to AQI information