Worst air pollution Salmon Arm, today and tomorrow

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Salmon Arm is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 78.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (NO2: 78.1/100).

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Salmon Arm will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 72.9/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (NO2: 72.9/100).

Salmon Arm's air quality follows a seasonal rhythm tied to its position on Shuswap Lake at the edge of the BC Interior. Hot, dry summers here bring a real risk of wildfire smoke, while winter's cold-air inversions can trap smog low in the valley. Wind moving through the valley plays a large role in whether smoke or smog lingers or clears quickly.

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.