Worst air pollution Big Sur, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Big Sur is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 61.0/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Big Sur is fair. AQI improves to fair; O3 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 39.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Big Sur's air quality is shaped largely by coastal fog and wildfire risk; dry-season wildfire smoke is the main air quality risk. Overall, Big Sur 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 10:00
AQI:
Poor
61.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
19.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
61.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Fair
39.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
19.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
13.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.1/100
Pollen forecast in Big Sur
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Big Sur
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Big Sur right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Big Sur is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 61.0/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 61.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Big Sur?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Big Sur will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 39.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Big Sur?
Like most US cities, Big Sur sees air quality shift from season to season, as winter typically brings the cleanest stretch, once occasional rain clears the basin; by contrast, hot, sunny summer conditions drive persistent ozone problems, compounded by wildfire smoke risk into early autumn. Coastal breezes offer some relief compared to inland valley locations that see heavier smog buildup.
Are air quality levels in Big Sur 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