COEUR d'ALENE - Weather is difficult enough to predict. Determining how smoky the air will be is even more challenging.

With that in mind, the smoky air is predicted to linger at current levels for the rest of this week.

"We may get a break for a couple days this weekend," said Andrew Kalin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Spokane.

The break - if it comes - would be due to an expected weather-front change bringing increased winds and possibly rain.

The relief would only be temporary, unless the fires die down significantly, Kalin said Monday.

Wind strength and direction will play a major part in how much smoke is in the area, he said.

On Friday, stronger winds brought a direct plume of smoke from fires in north central Washington, covering North Idaho with thick, brown smoke.

Those were north and northwesterly winds, while on Monday the area saw a more southwesterly flow.

"Right now we're getting a little bit of everyone's smoke," Kalin said. "There's not a whole lot of clean air to mix in."

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality categorized air quality in North Idaho as "unhealthy," said Ralph Paul, airshed coordinator for the agency.

"The poor air quality is expected to continue for the next few days," Paul said.

"Unhealthy" is the second worst on the agency's air-quality index, just better than "unhealthy/hazardous."

Activity guidelines when air hovers in the unhealthy range include keeping all children indoors and possibly rescheduling or relocating sporting events.

"In unhealthy conditions, people should avoid strenuous exercise, especially if they are pregnant, have asthma or any other risk factors, like heart disease," said Melanie Collett, a spokeswoman for Panhandle Health District in Hayden.

A person experiencing uncontrolled coughing or trouble breathing after being outside should contact a medical provider, she said. Drinking plenty of water is important, she said.

There is no particular time of day that's best for outdoor activities.

"Smoke levels do change with weather and wind conditions, but not necessarily with time of day," Collett said.

"We've been monitoring conditions since the middle of last week and anticipate doing so as we roll into September and the new school year," Coeur d'Alene School District spokeswoman Laura Rumpler said.

District athletic directors are reviewing air quality each day at 6 a.m. to decide whether to go forward with morning practices and again at noon for afternoon practices and evening games. The same will be done on weekends.

On Monday, athletic directors decided to move all practices indoors in the afternoon.

"If there is a sport that cannot practice indoors, then that practice is canceled," Rumpler said. "There is mention of regional games being played in the Kibbie Dome in Moscow as a back-up facility if an indoor facility is needed."

Coeur d'Alene High School plans to play its first football game of the season at the Kibbie Dome, while Lake City High School is moving in that direction.

The Coeur d'Alene Sting Soccer Club canceled practices last Thursday through the weekend. On Monday, the club re-evaluated the air quality conditions and again canceled practices. Some players in the youth club have asthma or other conditions that make them more vulnerable.

"Like a lot of other sports, soccer is a vigorous activity," club technical director Mike Thompson said. "We're definitely taking the err-on-the-side-of-caution approach."

Lisa Aitken, a spokeswoman for Kootenai Health, said nobody has been admitted to the hospital for respiratory problems from the smoke.

"We haven't seen anything significant," Aitken said. "A few have presented with respiratory problems."

Hayden resident Craig Sternberg, who does home appraisals, said he was surprised to see the almost black air filter in his home when he decided to change it Monday.

"I'm thinking that there's got to be a lot of people around here suffering," Sternberg said.