Worst air pollution Hamilton, today and tomorrow

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Hamilton is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.6/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 34.6/100).

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Hamilton will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 31.1/100).

Hamilton's air quality follows a seasonal rhythm tied to its steel mills along the harbourfront and the Niagara Escarpment above the city. Air quality here tends to dip in summer, when heat and industrial output combine, and again briefly in winter when cold, calm air traps emissions near ground level. Residents closer to the industrial waterfront tend to notice the seasonal swing more sharply than those higher up the escarpment.

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.