Is smog getting worse in the Southland?

FONTANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A gray haze settled over the Southland on Monday, but is the smog here to stay?

While many changes have been made to decrease emissions over the years, Mother Nature is presenting her own challenges.

Experts say the air quality may be getting worse because of the drought.

"If we had rain storms coming through, they're usually accompanied with wind and that pushes the dirty air out of the basin and brings in fresh air," said Anthony Wexler, a professor at UC Davis.

Wexler added that much has already been done to improve air quality in Southern California.

The AQMD keeps a close eye on construction sites. Many city buses are now powered by natural gas. The Kaiser Steel Mill stopped using blast furnaces in Fontana.

According to statistics by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), air quality has actually improved over the past few decades.

"I don't think we're going back to the air quality of the 60s and 70s," Wexler said. There may be these weather patterns that occur occasionally to make the air quality worse, but that's periodic."