The National Weather Service in Portland has issued an air stagnation advisory for Clark County that will remain in effect until midweek.
The advisory lists Vancouver, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Washougal, Yacolt and Amboy. It also includes the Portland metro area.
Meteorologists are predicting an extended period of time during whigh the air won’t mix much.
“We have a ridge of high pressure in the region, and little wind or vertical mixing is expected,” meteorologist David Elson said. Vertical mixing means there’s limited movement of the air up or down.
The conditions are conducive to accumulating particulates in the air, but that doesn’t mean air quality will definitely worsen. The conditions could always change, Elson said. Weather service meteorologists felt comfortable issuing the advisory through Wednesday, as eastern winds in the Columbia River Gorge are likely that night, he said.
Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems. According to state air quality agencies, prolonged periods of stagnant air can hold pollutants close to the ground.
The state agencies “highly recommend that no outdoor burning occur and that residential wood burning devices be limited as much as possible,” according to the advisory, which is set to expire at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
