Worst air pollution Delta, today and tomorrow

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Delta is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 29.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 29.5/100).

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Delta will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 31.5/100).

Delta's air quality varies through the year, influenced by the farmland and port lands at the mouth of the Fraser River. Summer heat can trap Vancouver's traffic emissions against the valley's surrounding mountains, adding to dust from farm fields, while winter rain generally clears the air. Local dairy and berry farming add a modest, steady contribution on top of the seasonal pattern.

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.

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.