Worst air pollution Castlegar, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Castlegar is moderate. AQI and NO2 are moderate; PM2.5 and PM10 are fair; O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 45.3/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Castlegar is moderate. O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 47.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Castlegar's air quality reflects its river-confluence valley position, with pulp-mill operations and winter inversions trapping emissions the main local concerns.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Moderate
45.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
37.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
45.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.7/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
17.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Moderate
47.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
39.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
27.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
47.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
25.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.7/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.4/100
Pollen forecast in Castlegar
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Castlegar right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Castlegar is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 45.3/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 45.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Castlegar?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Castlegar will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 47.1/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 47.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Castlegar?
Castlegar's air quality shifts noticeably across the seasons, shaped by its pulp mill at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay rivers. Air quality is generally very good outside of wildfire season, though hot, dry summers can bring smoky, hazy stretches when fires burn across the wider region. Wind direction across the river determines how much of the industrial output drifts into town on any given day.
Are air quality levels in Castlegar based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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