Drive Less, DEQ Says, As Stale, Cold Air Traps Pollution
Posted on: Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 18:00 CST
By Stuart Tomlinson, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
Dec. 13--A stubborn ridge of high pressure that has trapped cold air and pollutants near the ground prompted the National Weather Service to issue an air stagnation advisory for most of the Willamette Valley through Thursday.
"We're stuck in this pattern for at least the next week," said Tyree Wilde, meteorologist for the agency in Portland. "We had the same pattern for about 10 days in November, and then it rained like heck for 10 days."
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued a clean air advisory Monday as well, asking motorists to voluntarily curtail driving and homeowners to cut down the use of burning wood in stoves and fireplaces through Thursday.
Wilde said warm air in the upper atmosphere acts like a lid, trapping cold air and pollutants close to the ground.
At noon Monday, the temperature at Timberline Lodge -- at 6,000 feet -- was 47 degrees. At Portland International Airport, it was 35 degrees.
The stagnation advisory extends from Portland to Eugene. Stronger east winds should ease the problem in east Portland and the west end of the Columbia River Gorge today, but forecasters don't see any major changes in the weather pattern at least until late Sunday or Monday.
An air stagnation advisory also remained in effect for the eastern Columbia River Gorge and the Columbia River basin through 3 p.m. today.
"There's uncertainty in the extended forecast," Wilde said. "Some of the models show a system moving in Saturday, but some want to hang onto the ridge of high pressure for a while. We need something to come in and sweep through the area to give us a new air mass."
Wilde said overnight lows should continue in the high 20s and low 30s, with highs in the mid-30s to lower 40s.
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Source: The Oregonian
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