Salt Lake City recorded the worst air quality in the United States for a second consecutive day, as a persistent winter inversion trapped pollution over the Wasatch Front and left the city under a blanket of haze. As of Tuesday afternoon, Salt Lake City posted an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 123, placing it at the top of U.S. air pollution rankings, according to data from IQAir. While that level is categorized as “moderate” on the global scale, it still ranked Salt Lake City worst nationally and 32nd worst worldwide at the time of reporting. For comparison, Baghdad topped global rankings with an AQI exceeding 1,000.
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Meteorologists attribute the deteriorating conditions to a strong temperature inversion, where warmer air aloft traps colder, polluted air near the ground. A high-pressure system to the west has kept the inversion locked in place, preventing pollutants from dispersing.
Forecasters with Fox 13 News say a weak system moving in from the north later this week could bring winds strong enough to temporarily disrupt the inversion. However, longer-term relief appears unlikely, with high pressure expected to rebuild shortly afterward.
Extended exposure to poor air quality can carry health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart conditions. According to IQAir, air pollution was a leading risk factor in global mortality estimates for 2021, contributing to millions of premature deaths worldwide. Local health agencies continue to urge residents to limit outdoor activity during peak pollution hours and to monitor neighborhood-level air quality readings closely.
Snow Drought
The air quality issues come as Utah faces a worsening snow drought, driven in part by unusually warm winter temperatures. December 2025 was one of the warmest on record in the state, with temperatures reaching 60°F (16°C) on Christmas Day in Salt Lake City, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
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Below-average snowfall has compounded the problem. Snowpack serves as Utah’s primary natural water reservoir, and reduced accumulation threatens long-term water supplies for both communities and ecosystems. The lack of snow also affects the health of the Great Salt Lake , which depends heavily on snowmelt to maintain water levels and salinity balance…