December 4, 2010

The Salt Lake Valley is again suffering with a dirty, smelly, gray shroud of aerial gunk — air deemed bad enough that the Utah Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued red or “unhealthy” air warnings for Saturday through Sunday because of another winter air inversion and the automobile and industrial emissions it is trapping over the region’s valleys. Until possibly early Monday, when the National Weather Service predicts a low pressure front from the Pacific via California and Nevada may bring rain and snow, we will just have to hold our breath and live with it.

Usually you can see the mountains.

DEQ officials cautioned people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children to shun prolonged or heavy outdoors exertion. In fact, those with breathing ailments should just stay indoors, and motorists were urged to avoid adding to the pollution by putting off unnecessary travel altogether. Only Utah County, which had a “green” or moderate rating for Saturday and Sunday, seemed to be escaping the worst of the airborne, health-comprising effects of the inversion. Undoubtedly because that’s where all the really righteous people live. Just ask them.