A Spare the Air alert was issued for Monday in the Bay Area, the 19th Spare the Air day for the winter season.
Air quality will be unhealthy due to a high pressure system that will sweep the region and trap smoke near the ground, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
People may not burn wood or other solid fuels, indoors or outdoors.
During the season from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, wood smoke is the largest source of air pollution in the Bay Area, according to the district.
The Bay Area is one of the worst regions in the country for air quality. What are the Spare the Air days that get issued so frequently? Here's an explainer.
Media: Ted Andersen / SFGATE“Despite the recent rain, the Bay Area has experienced stagnant weather throughout most of the winter season, causing a buildup of wood smoke and unhealthy air quality,” said Jack Broadbent, the executive officer of the Bay Area Air District. “It’s important that when winter Spare the Air alerts are called, Bay Area residents refrain from burning wood to reduce harmful air pollution and protect public health.”
First-time violators can take a wood-smoke awareness class online or by mail or pay a $100 ticket. A second ticket will result in a $500 ticket, according to the district.
A light storm system will move through the Bay Area late Monday night bringing a few hundredths of an inch of rain to most of the region with up to half an inch expected in the North Bay, said Suzanne Sims, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani