SALT LAKE CITY — Smoggy skies will start off the New Year in Northern Utah this Sunday.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has issued a mandatory no-burn alert for Sunday, Jan. 1, in Weber, Davis, Box Elder and Cache counties.

“The inversion is building, in part, because of all the snow on the ground and people driving,” UDEQ said on its Facebook page last week.

People are asked to not use solid fuel burning devices, reduce or stop open burning, and reduce vehicle use by consolidating trips. Industries are urged to optimize operating conditions to minimize air pollution emissions.

Sunday’s air quality in Weber, Davis and Cache counties will be unhealthy for people with lung disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors. People in these groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Box Elder County’s air quality will be be acceptable Sunday, according to the UDEQ’s forecast, but the county is still under a mandatory no-burn alert.