Worst air pollution Ames, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Ames is fair. PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; AQI and NO2 are medium; SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 51.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Ames is poor. AQI worsens to poor; PM2.5 decreases to good; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 64.1/100). 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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Ames' air quality benefits from the flat Iowa prairie providing excellent wind dispersal, with vehicle emissions from I-35 and US-30 and the Iowa State University campus traffic contributing the primary local sources. Agricultural ammonia from surrounding Story County corn and soy operations contributes secondary particulate formation, while summer regional ozone from Midwest agricultural and industrial sources is the primary warm-season concern and the flat Iowa terrain maintains generally moderate conditions throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
51.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
22.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
51.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Poor
64.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
64.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.9/100
Pollen forecast in Ames
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ames right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Ames is fair. O3 is the main pollutant at 36.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 51.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ames?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Ames will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 64.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 64.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ames?
Ames follows a fairly predictable seasonal air quality pattern. Typically, the calmest air usually arrives in winter, between planting and harvest dust events, while spring planting and autumn harvest can push particulate levels up with dust and agricultural burning. Wide-open terrain generally helps disperse pollution quickly once the wind picks up.
Are air quality levels in Ames 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app