Worst air pollution Lake Cowichan, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Lake Cowichan is poor. AQI and NO2 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; CO and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 60.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Lake Cowichan is poor. PM10 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 66.8/100). 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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Lake Cowichan's air quality reflects its forested valley position, with historic logging operations and occasional summer wildfire smoke the main local concerns.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Poor

60.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

39.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

31.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

60.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

34.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

6.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

27.5/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 18:00

AQI:

Poor

66.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

25.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

9.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

66.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

28.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

34.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

18.1/100

Pollen forecast in Lake Cowichan

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Lake Cowichan right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Lake Cowichan is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 60.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 60.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Lake Cowichan?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Lake Cowichan will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 66.8/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 66.8/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Lake Cowichan?

Lake Cowichan sees clear seasonal swings in air quality, driven in part by its lakeside forestry setting on Vancouver Island. Winter brings frequent rain that keeps the air clean and washed, while summer's drier stretches can occasionally trap traffic emissions and, in bad wildfire years, smoke drifting in from the BC Interior. Frequent Pacific storms during the cooler months usually clear the air completely within a day.

Are air quality levels in Lake Cowichan 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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.

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