A “spare the air” advisory is in effect through Sunday attributable to moderate to unhealthy air quality across the Bay Area.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a warning Sunday morning prohibiting residents and businesses from burning wood or logs indoors and outdoors.
Air Quality Index forecasts show conditions are unhealthy for sensitive groups on the Peninsula, Santa Clara Valley, northern Alameda County, western Contra Costa County and parts of the North Bay. Much of the remaining of the Bay Area experiences temperate conditions.
“Regional wood burning and easterly winds carrying air pollution from the Central Valley to the Bay Area have contributed to high overnight concentrations of particulate matter and unhealthy air quality,” the agency said in a news release Sunday.
Cool temperatures and light-weight winds prevented mixing of what National Weather Service meteorologist Karleisa Rogacheski called an “accumulation of cooler air” beneath a layer of warmer air. These weather conditions also help trap smoke from wood burners near homes and increase the buildup of pollutants, in accordance with the air quality district.
Conditions are expected to enhance barely as northerly winds pick up throughout the afternoon and evening, although unhealthy levels will proceed, in accordance with BAAQMD. Forecasts say more significant improvements are expected on Monday attributable to windier northeasterly winds.
“We've already seen an improvement in visibility – fog and haze – because winds and temperatures were at the same level,” Rogacheski said. “Tomorrow there will be stronger winds that could help increase fog or keep it fog-free.”
Originally published:
image credit : www.mercurynews.com