Spare the Air alert in effect through Sunday

A Spare the Air alert is in effect through Sunday, amid moderate to unhealthy air quality across the Bay Area.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the alert Sunday morning, making it illegal for residents or businesses to burn wood or manufactured logs indoors and outside.

Air quality index forecasts show conditions are unhealthy for sensitive groups on the Peninsula, Santa Clara Valley, northern Alameda County, West Contra Costa County and parts of the North Bay. Much of the rest of the Bay Area is experiencing moderate conditions.

“Regional wood burning and easterly winds transporting air pollution into the Bay Area from the Central Valley have contributed to high overnight concentrations of fine particle pollution and unhealthy air quality,” the agency said in a press release Sunday.

Cool temperatures and light winds prevented the mixing of what National Weather Service meteorologist Karleisa Rogacheski described as a “pool of cooler air” below a layer of warmer air. Those weather conditions also help trap smoke from wood burning closer to homes and increases pollution buildup, the air quality district said.

Conditions are expected to improve slightly as northerly winds flow in later this afternoon and evening, though unhealthy levels will remain, according to the BAAQMD. More substantial improvements are expected Monday, thanks to breezier northeasterly winds, according to forecasts.

“We’ve already seen, in terms of visibility — fog and haze — improvement because we’ve had wind and temperatures come on line,” Rogacheski said. “There will be stronger winds tomorrow which could help elevate fog or keep it fog free.”

Originally Published: December 8, 2024 at 11:20 AM PST