Another air stagnation advisory issued for the Baker City area

BAKER CITY – The National Weather Service Boise office (which covers portions of Central East and Southeast Oregon) recently issued another air stagnation advisory for the Baker City area. The current advisory will remain in effect until 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 17, as of the time of writing. 

For anyone that may have noticed the recent advisories but is unfamiliar with the classification, the National Weather Service defines air stagnation as:

“A meteorological situation in which there is a major buildup of air pollution in the atmosphere. This usually occurs when the same air mass is parked over the same area for several days. During this time, the light winds cannot “cleanse” the buildup of smoke, dust, gases, and other industrial air pollution.”

Air stagnation advisories are subsequently issued when these stagnant masses could cause a buildup of airborne pollutants for communities in the area. Keep in mind that this IS NOT a poor air quality alert, merely an advisory that the lack of air movement could cause a buildup of pollutants that would otherwise be blown away or filtered out during normal conditions. The full advisory for Baker City is as follows:

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…AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM MST /10 AM

PST/ FRIDAY…

* WHAT…An extended period of stagnant air, with light winds and

  little vertical mixing. This is due to an inversion near the

  surface that will continue to trap pollutants.

* WHERE…Portions of south central, southwest, and west central

  Idaho and northeast and southeast Oregon.

* WHEN…Until 11 AM MST /10 AM PST/ Friday.

* IMPACTS…Poor air quality may cause issues for people with

  respiratory problems.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Persons with respiratory illness should follow their physicians

advice for dealing with high levels of air pollution during periods

of stagnant air.

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As of the time of writing, Baker City is listed as 54 on the air quality index, or just within the moderate air quality category, by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. No air quality advisories or restrictions are in place for the Baker City area. 

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