Alert: Air Quality Alert until 03:00PM

An Air Quality Alert has been extended until 3 PM by the following agencies: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in Lewiston Idaho Department of Environmental Quality in Coeur d`Alene Nez Perce Tribe Coeur d`Alene Tribe Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Idaho Counties within the Air Quality Alert Include: Benewah Bonner Boundary Kootenai Shoshone Latah Lewis Nez Perce Some Communities included are: Plummer, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Kellogg, Coeur d`Alene, St Maries, Kellogg, Moscow, Potlatch, Kamiah, Craigmont, Nezperce, Winchester, Lewiston, and Gifford. ...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT THURSDAY... West winds today should bring some improvement to the smoky and hazy conditions over the Idaho Panhandle today. Air quality officials will be monitoring sensors and communicating with the National Weather Service to determine if Air Quality Alerts will be necessary for Friday into the weekend. Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are m ost at risk of serious health effects. If you experience respiratory distress, you should speak with your physician. For additional information on wildland fire smoke impacting Idaho visit the Idaho smoke blog at http://idsmoke.blogspot.com

* AFFECTED AREAS: BENEWAH ... BONNER ... BOUNDARY ... KOOTENAI ... LATAH ... LEWIS ... NEZ PERCE ... SHOSHONE