For our most updated information on wildfire smoke and its relationship to COVID-19, visit our companion site, montanawildfiresmoke.org

To learn how Summer Smart fits into our community's broader climate resiliency efforts, visit climatereadymissoula.org

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Summer Smart is a collaborative initiative to help our community "weather the weather". Amid increasing summer wildfire smoke and extreme heat, we can be more physically and mentally healthy and resilient, helping those most at risk as we go. Learn more about how you can prepare today for the smoke of tomorrow. 
why do we need to be summer smart?
Summer in Missoula is a beautiful time of year, with outdoor adventures beckoning and our town abuzz. But summers often bring days of sweltering heat and wildfire smoke into our valley. Some years are worse than others, but as our climate is changing, hotter temperatures and smokier skies are becoming more common. From warming trends to changes in snowpack and wildfires, explore the climate context of our changing summer conditions. ​
What are the local indicators of our changing climate, and why do they tell us we need to be summer smart? Temperatures and precipitation patterns are shifting right here in western Montana. We are digging into what that means for our summers, today and into the future.
what are summer smart's goals?
  • Develop and strengthen networks to address community and individual understanding of, and responses to, the increased risks of wildfire, smoke, and heat.
  • Strengthen safety nets for the most vulnerable in our community facing heat and wildfire smoke health risks.
  • Link and build momentum for high priority sustainability strategies from our Community Climate Smart Action Plan.
  • Bring the arts, creativity, and hope to this challenging issue, while continuing to share the science and the risks.
What's the problem with a little  wildfire smoke in the air? Plenty. Find out what the risks are, who is most at risk, and what we can do to keep ourselves, our families, and our community healthy.  
Fires Burning Nearby? That's a different story than smoke. Learn more about which fires are burning where and what you might consider HERE.
We're surviving hotter days. We're living with warmer nights.  What are the risks form extreme heat and how do we stay cool, content, and connected?

​There's more to learn than you might think, and more we can do to help take care of the most vulnerable in our community. 
Climate affects mental health, too. Click HERE to learn how the changes we are experiencing can impact individual and community mental health, as well as how they can help us grow into a happier, more resilient, and more equitable community.