Worst air pollution Asheville, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Asheville is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; NO2 is fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 66.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Asheville is fair. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100). 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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Asheville's air quality reflects the Blue Ridge Mountains' enclosed basin position, with the city sitting in the Swannanoa and French Broad river valley confluence surrounded by the Southern Appalachian ridgelines. The topographic enclosure concentrates vehicle emissions from I-26 and I-40 under winter inversions, while the surrounding Southern Appalachian forest's naturally high biogenic VOC emissions combine with vehicle NOₓ to drive summer ozone formation in this scenic mountain city.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Poor

66.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

17.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

25.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

66.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

5.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

6.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

17.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00

AQI:

Medium

50.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

17.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

10.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

34.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

50.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

7.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

17.0/100

Pollen forecast in Asheville

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Asheville

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Asheville right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Asheville is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 66.4/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 66.4/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Asheville?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Asheville will be better than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 34.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Asheville?

Seasonal changes shape air quality across Asheville: the cleanest conditions usually arrive in winter, once the humid summer ozone season has ended, but summer heat combined with the region's dense forest cover drives an extended ozone season. Prescribed burns are more common in the cooler months and can add brief smoke episodes.

Are air quality levels in Asheville 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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