Air Stagnation Advisory Issued For NW Oregon, SW Washington

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – (Updated) An air stagnation advisory has been issued through Wednesday evening for much of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington including the Portland area.

The National Weather Service says surface high pressure will reside over the region for the next couple of days.

The advisory, issued Monday morning, covers southwest Washington south to Oregon’s Lane County and from the coast to central Oregon.

Forecasters say a system of light winds and cooler temperatures will trap pollutants from cars and trucks, smoke from wood stoves and other sources at ground level.

Officials with Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality urges residents in the advisory area to limit outdoor burning, consider alternatives to wood stoves and limit use of fireworks during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Click Here to check the live DEQ Air Quality Map. 

Air Quality appears to be improving this morning. Here’s the map as of 10:40am –

Here’s what it looks like as of 3:30am –

Read more:

Air Stagnation Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Portland OR
107 PM PST Mon Dec 31 2018

Coast Range of Northwest Oregon-
Central Coast Range of Western Oregon-Lower Columbia-
Greater Portland Metro Area-Central Willamette Valley-
South Willamette Valley-Northern Oregon Cascade Foothills-
Northern Oregon Cascades-Cascade Foothills in Lane County-
Cascades in Lane County-Upper Hood River Valley-
Western Columbia River Gorge-Central Columbia River Gorge-
South Washington Cascades-Willapa Hills-I-
5 Corridor in Cowlitz County-South Washington Cascade Foothills-
Including the cities of Vernonia, Jewell, Sunset Summit,
Lees Camp, Trask, Grande Ronde, Burnt Woods, Tidewater,
Swisshome, Veneta, St. Helens, Clatskanie, Hillsboro, Portland,
Wilsonville, Oregon City, Gresham, Troutdale, Salem, McMinnville,
Woodburn, Stayton, Dallas, Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis,
Albany, Lebanon, Sandy, Estacada, Silver Falls State Park,
Sweet Home, Government Camp, Detroit, Santiam Pass, Vida, Jasper,
Lowell, Cottage Grove, McKenzie Pass, McKenzie Bridge, Oakridge,
Willamette Pass, Parkdale, Odell, Corbett, Rooster Rock,
Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, Hood River,
Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center, Mount St. Helens,
Wind River Valley, Willapa, Frances, Ryderwood, Longview, Kelso,
Castle Rock, Toutle, Ariel, Lake Merwin, Yale Lake, Cougar,
North Bonneville, Stevenson, Carson, and Underwood
107 PM PST Mon Dec 31 2018

AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM PST
WEDNESDAY...

* AIR QUALITY...Air quality is expected to gradually deteriorate
  across the area through Wednesday afternoon due to light winds
  and reduced vertical mixing.

* TIMING...Monday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Diminished air quality could negatively affect
  health, especially for those with respiratory sensitivities.
  Those with such sensitivities should take necessary precautions
  to reduce or eliminate potential exposure to diminished air
  quality during the time period of this advisory.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

An Air Stagnation Advisory indicates that due to limited movement
of an air mass across the advisory area, pollution will increase
to dangerous levels. Persons with respiratory illness should
follow their physicians advice for dealing with high levels of
air pollution.