Stagnant weather pattern causing worsening air quality, lowland fog

SEATTLE — People with respiratory problems may have issues this week, as a stagnant weather pattern is causing worsening air quality and lowland fog.

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A stagnant air advisory is in effect for western Washington until 12 p.m. Wednesday.

Local jurisdictions may have wood-burning restrictions in place.

In addition, a dense fog advisory is in effect for western Washington until 12 p.m. Monday for visibility of a quarter-mile or less.

Some lowland locations could stay foggy all day long, while the mountains and some of our beaches will have brilliant sunshine, particularly along the south coast of Washington.

The stagnant weather pattern is due to a pronounced ridge of high pressure. This will give us calm weather lasting well into this week, though the lowlands will have plenty of low clouds and fog each day, barely dispersing to show some sunshine in the mid- to late -afternoon hours.

Highs Monday will only get into the low 40s.

These “Omega” block patterns (the jet stream path around the high is generally in the shape of the Greek letter omega) are very stubborn, and this one could last to near the end of the week, keeping rain and mountain snow away until next weekend, but not giving us the solid sunshine we would love to have this time of year.

We start to see more sunbreaks into Thursday, with a slight chance of rain by Friday. There will be more lowland rain and mountain snow heading into next weekend.

Long-range weather patterns could return to a more normal look by the last few days of January or the start of February. The outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for February has a return to colder and wetter than normal weather for next month, typical of a La Nina February.

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