Wasatch/SLC Inversion Hits 3rd Week - 1/26 Overall Low For Air Quality W. Visibility @ 300 Feet

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The inversion that has trapped stagnant, dirty air all along the Wasatch Front is now in its third week. And Friday marked the low point in overall air quality, according to the state's Division of Air Quality.

There is some good news: A weak storm system is expected to arrive today and churn the mix up a little. But it won't be enough to break the inversion's grip, and no significant relief is expected until Wednesday, at the earliest. "The inversion isn't going to go away, but it could lift the ceiling and ease things up a bit," said Bob Dalley, director of the state's air quality program. "The problem is, it's going to clamp right back down on Sunday."

Friday, Dalley noted, "was as bad as it's been during the whole inversion. We had extremely high hourly values and an extremely high 24-hour value. So any relief, at this point, would be appreciated." Low visibility vexed Salt Lake City International Airport on Friday, forcing some commercial flights to land elsewhere. At times, visibility dropped to just 300 feet, said Alvin Stuart, superintendent of airport operations.

Stuart couldn't say whether smog added to the airport's troubles, only that foggy conditions kept some planes from landing or departing on time. The visibility was worst between 8 and 10 a.m. Friday, and after sundown.

EDIT

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5100038