Worst air pollution Cali, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Cali is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 21.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Cali is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (O3: 23.0/100). 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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Cali's air quality reflects the Cauca Valley's severe topographic enclosure between the Western and Central Andes cordilleras at 995 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the industrial, sugar refinery, and vehicle density corridor generating elevated PM2.5. The enclosed valley's persistent thermal inversions trap emissions, while the surrounding Andean ridgelines create significant topographic concentration and Cali generally maintains moderate to elevated Colombian highland valley metropolitan readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
21.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Fair
23.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.5/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cali right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Cali is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 21.2/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 21.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cali?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Cali will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 23.0/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (O3: 23.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cali?
In Cali, traffic emissions along with steel, cement, and chemical production are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when the surrounding valley traps air close to the ground. The surrounding valley terrain holds pollutants near the surface rather than letting them disperse. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels.
Are air quality levels in Cali 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app