Worst air pollution Salem, today and tomorrow
Today (22 September): Air quality in Salem is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are moderate; PM10 is fair; O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 6:30 AM (PM1: 43.3/100).
Tomorrow (23 September 2026): Air quality in Salem is moderate. PM10 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:30 PM (NO2: 50.5/100). 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 - 22 September | Pollution peaks at 06:30
AQI:
Moderate
43.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
40.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
42.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
43.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 23 September | Pollution peaks at 18:30
AQI:
Moderate
50.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
42.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
42.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
50.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
13.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
44.2/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Salem right now?
On 22 September 2026, overall air quality in Salem is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 43.3/100. Pollution peaks around 6:30 AM (PM1: 43.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Salem?
On 23 September 2026, air quality conditions in Salem will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 50.5/100. Pollution peaks around 6:30 PM (NO2: 50.5/100).
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: 22 September 2026 at 20:32 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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