Worst air pollution Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Blue Ridge Parkway 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 Blue Ridge Parkway is medium. AQI improves to medium; NO2 decreases 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 Blue Ridge Parkway air quality benefits from the elevated Appalachian Mountain position at 600 to 1,800 metres, with consistent Appalachian westerly winds providing reliable ventilation along the famous scenic roadway. The extraordinary dense Appalachian forest provides exceptional natural filtration, while summer ozone from transported upwind sources and the naturally high biogenic VOC emissions are documented concerns and summer wildfire smoke is an increasingly frequent seasonal challenge throughout the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Poor
66.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
66.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.0/100
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
18.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
40.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.0/100
Other Landmarks in Asheville
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Blue Ridge Parkway right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Blue Ridge Parkway 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 Blue Ridge Parkway?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Blue Ridge Parkway will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 50.9/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Blue Ridge Parkway?
Seasonal changes shape air quality at Blue Ridge Parkway much as they do across Asheville. Typically, the cleanest conditions usually arrive in winter, once the humid summer ozone season has ended, while summer heat, humidity, and emissions from surrounding forests combine to drive ozone levels up. Prescribed burns are more common in the cooler months and can add brief smoke episodes.
Are air quality levels in Blue Ridge Parkway 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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