Worst air pollution Nelson, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Nelson is poor. AQI and NO2 are poor; PM2.5, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (NO2: 65.0/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Nelson is fair. AQI improves to medium; NO2 decreases to medium; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 52.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Nelson's air quality reflects its mountain-basin position on Kootenay Lake, where winter wood-heating in this heritage town can trap PM2.5 during temperature inversions.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Poor
65.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
24.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
65.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
52.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
52.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
16.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.7/100
Pollen forecast in Nelson
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Nelson right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Nelson is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 65.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (NO2: 65.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Nelson?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Nelson will be better than today, with O3 forecast at fair at 23.3/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 52.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Nelson?
Nelson's air quality follows a seasonal rhythm tied to its lakeside setting on Kootenay Lake in the Selkirk Mountains. For most of the year the air stays clean and lake-fresh, but summer tourist traffic and, in some years, drifting wildfire smoke can briefly worsen conditions. Weekday air quality is often noticeably better than on busy summer weekends when visitor numbers peak.
Are air quality levels in Nelson 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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