Worst air pollution Arcata, today and tomorrow

Today (15 July): Air quality in Arcata is fair. PM2.5, PM10, and PM1 are fair; AQI, NO2, and O3 are medium; SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 47.2/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Arcata is fair. O3 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 45.2/100). 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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In Arcata, cool, damp North Coast air is the main influence on air quality, and frequent marine fog keeps pollutant levels consistently low. Overall, Arcata sees air quality that tracks fairly closely with typical conditions for its wider region. As with most US destinations, conditions here are best understood by season rather than by a single yearly average.

Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 17:00

AQI:

Medium

47.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

37.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

26.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

47.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

44.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

14.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

24.4/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Medium

45.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

28.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

27.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

45.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

37.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

10.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

16.1/100

Pollen forecast in Arcata

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Arcata right now?

On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Arcata is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 37.6/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 47.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Arcata?

On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Arcata will be similar to today, with O3 forecast at fair at 37.6/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 45.2/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Arcata?

Air quality in Arcata shifts across the year, as the shortest stretch of clean air usually falls in the wetter winter months; by contrast, summer sunshine and heat drive some of the worst ozone readings in the country. The mountains ringing the basin can trap pollution close to the ground for days when winds are calm.

Are air quality levels in Arcata 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.

Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United States?

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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