The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a no-burn order for much of Southern California through Thursday amid poor air quality. The agency chalks up the bad air to — coincidentally — residents enjoying holiday fires as well as “stagnant” weather. Stagnation occurs when an air mass lingers over an area, according to the National Weather Service. With little to no onshore or offshore air flow, particles from fires and other pollution, such as vehicle emissions, become concentrated in the atmosphere. The AQMD ban prohibits the burning of wood and manufactured logs in fireplaces and outdoor wood-burning devices.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 31, 2023 19:55 UTC