Relief from inversion and poor air quality may be in Utah’s near future

SALT LAKE CITY — Currently, the Beehive State is in the middle of some thick inversion and poor air quality. Relief may be on the way, though, according to David Church with the National Weather Service.

According to Church, Utah’s air quality has steadily gotten worse throughout the week.

“We’ve reached unhealthy levels under this really stubborn inversion,” he told KSL NewsRadio.

Church says this could be the worst inversion and poor air quality Utah has seen throughout all of winter. In Salt Lake County, he says, air quality is so bad that even healthy people shouldn’t exert themselves outside.

“The things that wouldn’t be recommended would be going out for a run or doing … strenuous activities outside,” Church says.

Though, there is still hope. Cleaner air could be on the way, thanks to an upcoming storm on Sunday, Feb. 5.

“We have that nice storm coming in Sunday that looks very promising for breaking up this inversion for us and improving our air quality,” Church says.

According to Church, the upcoming storm won’t immediately improve Utah’s air, but it could improve as early as Sunday night or Monday morning.

“It looks like we do get a little bit of a break [from the poor air quality] after this,” Church says. “At this point in the year, we are starting to get to the end of inversion season.”

Church says by mid-February and early March inversion this strong becomes much less likely.

Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News can be heard on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.

Read more:

• Scientists say warming climate could reduce inversions
• Utah air quality has been good, but that may change soon
• Air quality along the Wasatch Front is concerning for sensitive groups

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