The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, February 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
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Advisory
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Valero Refinery in Benicia notified the Air District of continued refinery equipment shutdowns beginning 2/5. Odors and/or flaring may occur. Air District inspectors will be closely monitoring. Report air quality complaints: 800-334-ODOR or online.
Learn about Napa County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Napa County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
Napa County is nestled in a valley between the Maycamas Mountains in the west and the Vaca Mountains in the east. One Napa County representative sits on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, February 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
The Air District's Board of Directors has approved the grant guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund, marking a major milestone for the Bay Reinvesting Penalties for Air Improvement and Resilience program, or Bay REPAIR program. The program will begin accepting grant applications on Jan. 29, 2026, opening a new opportunity for community-led projects that reduce air pollution, improve public health and strengthen community resilience in Benicia, Richmond and surrounding communities.
The Air District’s Clean HEET Program is now accepting applications for grants that can help to offset the cost of switching from wood-burning or pellet-burning stoves, fireplace inserts or open-hearth fireplaces to an electric heat pump. A decommission-only option is also available for homeowners to remove existing open-hearth fireplaces or older, uncertified wood-burning stoves or inserts. Switching to an electric heat pump helps improve air quality in communities by replacing polluting wood-burning devices with cleaner heating options.
The Air District is extending a Spare the Air Alert through Sunday, January 18, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. A Spare the Air Alert remains in effect today, Saturday, January 17.
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The mountains bordering Napa Valley block much of the prevailing northwesterly winds throughout the year. Sunshine is plentiful in Napa County, and summertime can be very warm in the valley, particularly in the northern end. Winters are usually mild, with cool temperatures overnight and mild-to-moderate temperatures during the day. Wintertime temperatures tend to be slightly cooler in the northern end of the valley. Winds are generally calm throughout the county. Annual precipitation averages range from about 24 inches in low elevations to more than 40 inches in the mountains.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
In Napa County, ozone rarely exceeds health standards, but PM2.5 occasionally does reach unhealthy concentrations. There are multiple reasons for PM2.5 exceedances in Napa County. First, much of the county is wind-sheltered, which tends to trap PM2.5 within the Napa Valley.
Second, much of the area is well north of the moderating temperatures of San Pablo Bay and, as a result, Napa County experiences some of the coldest nights in the Bay Area. This leads to greater fireplace use and, in turn, higher PM2.5 levels. Finally, in the winter easterly winds often move fine-particle-laden air from the Central Valley to the Carquinez Strait and then into western Solano and southern Napa County.
Last Updated: 4/21/2017