As winter inversion worsens, measures are encouraged to reduce the haze

Jan 11, 2022, 2:33 PM

Winter inversion settles in. View of two Timpanogos Mountains in West Jordan. Photo: Heather Kelly

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — A winter inversion has settled in over the Wasatch Front. And officials are encouraging the public to take certain measures to avoid adding to the already intense haze.

The culprit at least in part is the familiar cold air settling into the valleys of the Wasatch Front. It traps the pollution generated by cars, industries, and home heating.

Winter inversion measures are put into place because the layer of polluted air could stay trapped in the valleys for the next several days.

So, wood burning is prohibited unless it’s your only source of heat. And commuters are asked to either stay home or find alternatives to driving their cars.

One of the winter inversion measures involves state employees, who are asked to work remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday if possible.

Another comes from Salt Lake’s National Weather Service. It encourages the public to carpool or use public transportation when possible.

If you’ve been out and about along the Wasatch Front, you’ve probably seen the tell-tale haze. Yes, high pressure means inversion conditions through at least midweek, resulting in declining air quality. Carpool or use public transportation if you can! #utwx pic.twitter.com/TB71C3ex6C

— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) January 10, 2022

Conditions are worst in the Salt Lake Valley. Many reporting stations detect conditions in the orange range — meaning the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

KSL TV’s Grant Weyman said there is hope that conditions will get better by the end of the week. Northern Utah could see a possible disturbance that could clear out some of the gunk. However, he said the disturbance is not expected to give us much in the way of rain or snow.