DRIGGS, Idaho — Teton County Fire and Rescue along with the Teton County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office have alerted the public that stagnant air is trapped in the valley, and thus controlled burns will not be allowed in the area today.
“Residents please be advised of an air stagnation and cold weather advisory today,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. “Accordingly, controlled burns are not allowed today.”
According to the National Weather Service, air stagnation is “a meteorological situation in which there is a major buildup of air pollution in the atmosphere. This usually occurs when the same air mass is parked over the same area for several days. During this time, the light winds cannot ‘cleanse’ the buildup of smoke, dust, gases and other industrial air pollution.”
An advisory will be issued when that buildup is stuck near the ground, with a stagnant high pressure system unable to be moved by the weak winds in the area.
