Smokey skies shroud Rapid City from a wildfire in Montana.  

Kyle Carstens, who is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Rapid City, said the level of smoke depends on wind direction, but Carstens thinks it will stick around.  

“As we get into the weekend and early next week, upper-level winds will kind of push some of that smoke back into the area,” he said. “So overall, I think we are going to be on and off hazy, smokey skies for at least another week.” 

Carstens encouraged people to stay inside or limit exertion outside because of low air quality.    

“When it gets really smoky, you know at the surface especially when you can kind of smell it that’s when it’s at its poorest,” he said. “And really if you have any breathing difficulties, that kind of stuff, you kind of want to limit your time outside.   

Carstens said smoke should not affect the rest of the state.