Inversion Traps Dirty Air Over The Truckee Meadows

Winter inversion traps air pollution, obscures downtown Reno.
Photo © Stan White

That muck hanging over the Truckee Meadows is air pollution and haze trapped by an inversion layer covering the valley. This is a common winter phenomenon around here, though not a pleasant one. Another thing it does is trap cold air, which often results in Reno daytime temperatures being lower than up around Lake Tahoe. As I write, it's 19 degrees F in Reno, 34 at Incline Village, and 27 in Truckee. Matter of fact, it hasn't been above freezing in Reno since last Sunday.

All the dirty air has prompted the Washoe County Health Department to issue a stage one air pollution alert because the air quality index has crept above 100, which is an unhealthy level. All burning is banned, including fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, and commercial burning. With a couple of storms coming in starting Friday, wind may clean out the valley and cause the ban to be lifted. Yes, more snow is on the way. For more information on Washoe County air quality, call (775) 784-7200. For a recorded air quality message, call (775) 785-4110.

Sources: Washoe County Health Department, National Weather Service Reno.

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