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Pollution reaches yellow levels as inversion appears along Wasatch Front

Posted at 3:34 PM, Nov 13, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-13 17:34:21-05

THE WASATCH FRONT, Utah – The Wasatch Front’s inversion was present Wednesday, and the day’s pollution level was in the yellow area.

A cold front moving through the area Wednesday appeared to be helping to reduce pollution levels, and a storm front expected to arrive early Friday is likely to clear out the remaining inversion.

Bo Call monitors air at the Department of Air Quality, and he said residents have several things they can do to help reduce pollution.

“They can always eliminate any wood burning that they’re doing,” he said. “If you burn in the fireplace, that’s a good thing to eliminate, and that helps a lot. Restricting driving, [more] carpooling, trying to limit the number of times you start your vehicle—that’s always a good thing. Driving newer cars as opposed to older cars is better, as newer cars pollute less.”

Call said if there was snow on the ground and if temperatures were colder, the inversion would be worse than it is. Call said Wednesday was an unrestricted action day, as they expected the inversion to clear out later in the week. An unrestricted action day means  people are still allowed to burn wood if they choose. The designation is part of the DAQ’s new alert system for wood burning.

Call said the pollution level is in the yellow area Wednesday, which is considered moderate.

Click here for the current air conditions from the DAQ.