The National Weather Service has issued an air stagnation advisory for regions east of the Cascades, effective until Friday at 4 a.m. This advisory alerts residents to potential poor air quality caused by a temperature inversion and stagnant air, which can trap pollutants near the ground.
Consequently, state air quality agencies strongly recommend against outdoor burning and advise minimizing the use of residential wood-burning devices like fireplaces and stoves.In Central Oregon, cities such as Bend, Redmond, and Madras are affected, along with extensive areas in north Central Oregon, Northeast Oregon, and parts of south central and southeast Washington, including the Columbia River Gorge.The National Weather Service warns that these air quality conditions may pose risks for individuals with respiratory issues.
On Tuesday morning in Bend, one air quality monitor reported levels above 150 (unhealthy), while most stations showed readings around 120 (unhealthy for sensitive groups).
Meteorologist Camden Plunkett explained that the stagnation results in pollutants being trapped close to the surface, leading to hazy skies. However, he noted that air quality is expected to improve over the weekend as a winter weather system moves in, potentially bringing up to a foot of snow to higher elevations. Central Oregon could see between 1.5 to 3 inches of snow from Sunday night through Tuesday, affecting areas from Warm Springs to La Pine.
Leave a Reply