Worst air pollution Salem, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Salem is fair. O3 and SO2 are fair; AQI and NO2 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:30 PM (NO2: 41.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Salem is fair. PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:30 PM (NO2: 47.5/100). 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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Salem's air quality reflects the flat Tamil Nadu Salem River valley at 278 metres at the Eastern Ghats base, with vehicle density, steel manufacturing, and textile corridor generating elevated industrial PM2.5. The dry northeast monsoon concentrates steel industrial and vehicle emissions, while the surrounding Eastern Ghats create topographic variation and Salem generally maintains moderate to elevated South Indian steel industrial city readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 23:30
AQI:
Medium
41.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
41.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
24.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 21:30
AQI:
Medium
47.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
47.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
31.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Salem right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Salem is fair. SO2 is the main pollutant at 24.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:30 PM (NO2: 41.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Salem?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Salem will be similar to today, with SO2 forecast at fair at 31.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:30 PM (NO2: 47.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Salem?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Salem are road traffic, heavy industrial and chemical processing, and manufacturing activity, particularly once windblown dust events occur. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels. Rainfall through the monsoon usually keeps levels in check.
Are air quality levels in Salem 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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