Processed on 2024-03-04 13:32:22 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Montana spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

August in Montana

August 2014 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 68 25 0 0 0 0 3
New 55 38 0 0 0 0 3

August 2015 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 176 120 47 78 2 0 25
New 141 152 50 71 9 0 25

August 2016 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 353 59 8 3 0 0 57
New 283 129 8 3 0 0 57

August 2017 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 128 278 67 25 14 11 21
New 75 330 67 26 13 12 21

August 2018 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 146 300 57 24 0 0 49
New 103 340 60 24 0 0 49

August 2019 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 512 38 2 0 0 0 24
New 466 84 2 0 0 0 24

August 2020 – 46 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 384 128 16 0 0 0 48
New 301 211 16 0 0 0 48

August 2021 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 250 211 64 27 0 0 24
New 171 288 65 27 1 0 24

August 2022 – 28 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 548 39 0 0 0 0 21
New 449 138 0 0 0 0 21

August 2023 – 79 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 457 206 13 3 0 0 57
New 344 319 13 3 0 0 57