Worst air pollution Almaty, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Almaty is poor. AQI, O3, and SO2 are poor; PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; NO2 is medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 74.1/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Almaty is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; O3 decreases to medium; SO2 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 80.3/100). 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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Almaty's air quality reflects the severe Zaili Alatau Mountain basin's enclosed position at 900 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the manufacturing, construction, and regional capital corridor generating elevated PM2.5. The Tian Shan mountains to the south create near-complete topographic enclosure, while winter temperature inversions trap emissions extensively and Central Asian continental dust contributes elevated PM10, maintaining Almaty among Central Asia's more topographically challenged major metropolitan environments throughout the winter months.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Poor
74.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
47.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
70.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
74.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Very poor
80.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
24.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
58.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
47.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
80.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
29.6/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Almaty right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Almaty is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 74.1/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 74.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Almaty?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Almaty will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 80.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 80.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Almaty?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Almaty are traffic on the surrounding roads, textile and manufacturing operations, along with construction activity, particularly once calm, stagnant conditions settle in the surrounding valley. Topographic enclosure in the valley lets pollution accumulate rather than clear out. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels.
Are air quality levels in Almaty 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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