Sofia JeremiasSouthwest winds are pushing wildfire smoke from California into Northern Utah this week.
“We’re almost completely surrounded by wildfires,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Alex DeSmet.
Wildfires in Oregon and Idaho are also contributing to the hazy skies.
“It looks like that source will shift once the wind direction shifts,” DeSmet explained, “but the net effect is little change on the concentrations of smoke across northern Utah.”
The wildfire smoke will likely remain through Wednesday.
(National Weather Service) On Monday Southwest winds push wildfire smoke from California across Northern Utah.
Later in the week and into the weekend the winds will be very light.
“The good news is that it would slow down the transport of additional smoke,” DeSmet said. But that also means the existing smoke could stay trapped in the Salt Lake Valley under a building inversion.
Ozone production is also contributing to the poor air quality. For the next few days, DeSmet says he will be limiting time outside. People who are sensitive to air quality should do the same.
Sofia Jeremias focuses on solutions-oriented stories for the Innovation Lab. She reports on people experiencing the housing crisis. She earned her master's degree from the Columbia Journalism School and previously reported on the West for WyoFile and the Deseret News.