LOCAL NEWS

Wasatch Front Air Quality In Unhealthy Range

Dec 4, 2019, 4:19 PM | Updated: 8:57 pm

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Air pollution along most of the Wasatch Front today is in the unhealthy range, especially for people with breathing issues.  When we cannot see the mountains from the middle of the Salt Lake Valley, that’s one sign the pollution is getting thick.  Extra moisture in the air adds fog to the mix, which makes it look even worse.

“It’s a pretty bad inversion,” said Thom Carter, executive director of UCAIR. “We’ve got a low lid. Everything is being trapped in here.”

The bad air intensified quickly this week.  Right now, the exclusive KSL Air Quality Network shows deteriorating, unhealthy air along the Wasatch Front.

“The pollution builds as soon as the inversion sets up, and if you get storms that come through on a regular four or five day basis, then you don’t have long enough to build up to really high levels,” said Bo Call, air monitoring manager for the Utah Division of Air Quality.

It wasn’t long after the last storm moved out Saturday, that the inversion started to set up Sunday.  Warm air aloft puts a lid on the valley, trapping particulate pollution in most of our neighborhoods.  The pollution from combustion wafts around.  But, typically the worst of it pools in the lowest parts of the valleys, and today the fog cuts visibility even more.

Bo Call

“Normally, we don’t see this kind of weather until Christmas or later. Seems a little bit early this year,” said Call.  “The numbers have been climbing since Monday, basically, and, they continue to go up.  This weekend, we expect a storm that should clear us out.”

We will experience more episodes like this during the next few months.  So, UCAIR suggests we plan ahead to take action to reduce our emissions.

“There are no perfect answers,” said Carter. “But, there are practical solutions, and everybody, especially now, has to sit down and identify things they can try, things they can do that are practical solutions.”

Those solution can then become good habits.

“It’s really easy to find things they can try. One thing right now, is just be idle free,” said Carter.

Switch off your car when you’re waiting to pick up kids at school, or in the drive-through at a restaurant or the bank.

If you leave the car on because you’re cold…

“Bring a heavy coat, or a hat, or have a blanket in your car,” said Carter.  “Bundle up, leave your car off, and you don’t have wasted emissions.”

Some people can work from home.  Others can carpool, and all of us can link our errands in one trip that helps eliminate the cold start.  That first belch of pollution after your car has been cold is the worst discharge.

“You’re going to see about 50 to 60% of your emissions within the first 90 seconds. And that’s a lot,” said Call.

Once your car is warmed up, and the catalytic converter is working, it puts out much less pollution.

“Sit down with your family, your friends, your community. Make a plan, and be part of the solution,” said Carter.

Whatever emissions we add to the air during this inversion will be with us until the next storm blows it away, said Call.  So, the decisions we make about driving our cars, impact the pollution around us.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

10 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

10 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

10 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

10 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

11 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Wasatch Front Air Quality In Unhealthy Range