How Do Western Colorado Windstorms Actually Clean the Air?

On the Western Slope, when the wind picks up, sometimes you can hear it rattle your windows. Fruita & Grand Junction residents learn this sound can be a good thing, because it signals an atmospheric “reset.”

Once a raucous windstorm passes, the Grand Valley smells crisper, the sky is clearer, and that hint of piñon or cottonwood is once again noticeable in the air. What causes Western Colorado’s air purge, and is it more than just stirring up dust?

What’s Normally in the Air — and How Wind Helps

Read More: Colorado's Windy Weather: Powerful Gusts & Scary Record Speeds

It only takes a few days without wind before you start to notice that haze in the air around Grand Junction or Delta. This is the dust, pollen, wildfire residue, and exhaust from cars and farm equipment that linger in the valley.

When a wind event moves through, the National Weather Service says it’s like a vacuum cleaner for the air. Once the winds calm back down, the view across the Book Cliffs is clearer, and the air is cleaner to breathe. IQAir.com says this is called “dispersion.” It’s one of the fastest ways the atmosphere can reset.

Why the Air Feels So Fresh After a Western Slope Windstorm

Read More: How Do Canyon Winds Impact Life In Fruita, Colorado?

When Western Colorado residents hear that rattle at the window, we know that once the wind stops, a refreshing physical and sensory change will take place. The winds clear out the haze, ease the humidity, and allow the scent of pine and sage to be more noticeable in the evening.

In the Grand and Uncompahgre Valleys, strong canyon and mesa winds help break through temperature inversions. Once an inversion breaks, crisp and clean air from higher elevations mixes down to replace the stagnant air, and the entire area feels like a fresh start, according to Nature.com..

How to Make the Most of Nature’s Air Reset

From Grand Junction to Montrose, wind is more than weather; it’s how we keep skies clear and air breathable. Once the wind slows and the skies clear, check the air quality at AirNow.com. After that, it’s usually time to open the windows and air out the house. This is also a great time to wipe down surfaces that collected grit during the storm, or walk your dog, or plan outdoor activities.

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