By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE National Weather Service, in a statement yesterday, said that “unusual light winds” over the past few days have helped keep the Anatahan haze and Asian smog over the Marianas islands, “trapping” them close to the ground.
The hazy conditions in the Marianas started on Sunday.
According to a series of advisories from the Emergency Management Office, the haze was coming from the gas and steam plumes of the Anatahan volcano which erupted four years ago.
But in its latest special weather statement, the NWS explained that “the major cause of the haze can be traced to a persistent wind flow pattern across the north Pacific which has been bringing Asian smog across Japan and southward into the Mariana islands.”
The NWS said the combination of winter-time soot from Asia, high pressure over Korea and Japan and the low pressure system east of Japan “created a persistent north to south flow that typically effects the local area once for twice a year in the late winter and early spring.”
“To add to the misery,” the NWS stated, “northerly winds are bringing…volcanic smog from Anatahan. In addition, sea spray from the heavy surf conditions is adding to the mix.”
Citing a NASA satellite image, EMO Director Gregorio Deleon Guerrero said low level winds below 1,500 feet going in an east-northeasterly direction are sustaining the haze from Anatahan and the Asian smog.
He said the conditions noticeable for the past three days are still associated with haze from Anatahan.
The NWS said that a “temperature inversion helps trap the pollution close to the ground and the light winds occurring for the past few days have kept the smog and the locally produced pollution over the islands.”
At least 28 people, including Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez have been affected by the haze, and 20 have sought medical attention at the Commonwealth Health Center on Saipan and seven at the clinic on Rota.
Villagomez said on Tuesday that no one had been admitted so far.
The NWS said winds are expected to pick up from the east and push the haze out of the area tonight or tomorrow.