An atmospheric environmental “pre-contingency,” which indicates that the level of harmful particles in the air has exceeded acceptable standards, was issued November 7 in the Las Pintas area of Guadalajara, becoming the 45th one this year in the metro area.
Jalisco’s Department of the Environment (Semadet) attributed the higher concentrations of pollution in the metropolitan area in 2023 to the combination of low rainfall and low atmospheric humidity, and high solar radiation. Further smog alerts are expected in the winter months, as the lower temperatures cause early morning thermal inversions that trap pollutants in the atmosphere.