Worst air pollution Blue Ridge Parkway - Asheville, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Blue Ridge Parkway is moderate. AQI and NO2 are moderate; PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 42.7/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Blue Ridge Parkway is moderate. O3 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 44.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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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 - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 21:00
AQI:
Moderate
42.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
26.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
42.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
23.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Moderate
44.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
27.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
15.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
44.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
40.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
24.5/100
Other Landmarks in Asheville
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Blue Ridge Parkway right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Blue Ridge Parkway is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 42.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 42.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Blue Ridge Parkway?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Blue Ridge Parkway will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 44.0/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 44.0/100).
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: 30 August 2026 at 20:26 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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