Worst air pollution Semey, today and tomorrow
Today (17 August): Air quality in Semey is fair. AQI, O3, and SO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 35.9/100).
Tomorrow (18 August 2026): Air quality in Semey is fair. NO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 37.2/100). 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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Semey's air quality reflects the flat Kazakhstan eastern steppe Irtysh River plain at 205 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the manufacturing, government, and agricultural corridor contributing local sources. The former Soviet Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site's environmental legacy represents the most historically significant environmental context, while winter residential coal heating under severe anticyclonic inversions generates elevated PM2.5 and Semey generally maintains moderate to elevated Kazakh eastern steppe city readings throughout the winter months.
Today - 17 August | Pollution peaks at 17:00
AQI:
Fair
35.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
17.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
26.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 18 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
37.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
36.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
37.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Semey right now?
On 17 August 2026, overall air quality in Semey is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.9/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 35.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Semey?
On 18 August 2026, air quality conditions in Semey will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 37.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 37.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Semey?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Semey are traffic on the surrounding roads, manufacturing activity, as well as crop farming, particularly once temperatures drop in winter. Coal and wood used for winter heating add substantially to particulate levels. This effect eases considerably during the warmer months.
Are air quality levels in Semey 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: 17 August 2026 at 08:27 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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