The big question on everyone's mind is when will we get rid of this inversion and the pollution (especially in Utah county where PM2.5 levels this morning are at 120 ug/m3, nearly 3.5 times the National Ambient Air Quality Standard). There is a much advertised trough coming in on Thursday and it may help, but I'm not sure if it will give us complete relief.
The problem is that the trough, at least as forecast, is not very strong and brushes by to the north. We get the tail end of the system, which brings our 700-mb (near-crest-level) temperatures down to about -6ºC and gives us some precipitation, but that's about it.
To fully mix out the cold pools that are present over most of the valleys and basins of northern Utah likely requires colder temperatures aloft and/or stronger winds. Thus, this may be a case where the inversion is stirred, but not shaken. We will probably see a drop in PM2.5 levels (precipitation will help with this too), but not a complete mix out. Thanks to the precipitation, there's a chance we could get fogged in.
Of course, inversion mixout is extremely difficult to forecast, so maybe we will do better than I expect. If not, my advice is that you prepare a vodka martini, 3 measures of Gordon's gin, 1 measure of vodka, 1/2 measure of Kina Lillet vermouth, shake it very well until it's ice cold, pour it into a deep champagne glass, and garnish with a slice of lemon peel.
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