Worst air pollution Altoona, Pennsylvania, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Altoona, Pennsylvania is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.5/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Altoona, Pennsylvania is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; NO2 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 43.0/100). 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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Altoona's air quality reflects the Pennsylvania Allegheny Mountain valley position, with vehicle emissions from I-99 and the surrounding manufacturing and logistics legacy contributing local sources in this former Pennsylvania Railroad hub. The surrounding Allegheny ridgelines create topographic enclosure that concentrates vehicle and heating emissions under winter inversions, while summer ozone from the naturally high biogenic Appalachian VOC emissions and the regional mid-Atlantic airshed are primary warm-season concerns.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
32.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
26.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.5/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Moderate
43.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
43.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.5/100
Pollen forecast in Altoona, Pennsylvania
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Altoona, Pennsylvania right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Altoona, Pennsylvania is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Altoona, Pennsylvania?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Altoona, Pennsylvania will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 43.0/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 43.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Altoona, Pennsylvania?
Altoona follows a fairly predictable seasonal air quality pattern: winter generally brings the cleanest air, once the summer ozone season has passed, but the hottest, most humid summer weeks bring the year's highest ozone readings. Suburban and rural areas generally see less of the persistent traffic-driven pollution that affects the urban core.
Are air quality levels in Altoona, Pennsylvania 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.
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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