Worst air pollution Big Sur Coast - Big Sur, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Big Sur Coast is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; NO2 is medium; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 61.0/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Big Sur Coast is fair. AQI improves to fair; NO2 increases 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 benefits from its exceptional Pacific Ocean and California Central Coast position, with consistent Pacific sea breezes and marine layer providing among California's most reliable and powerful maritime ventilation along the dramatic cliffside Highway 1 corridor. The remote coastal wilderness and the outstanding Pacific exposure generally maintain excellent conditions, while summer wildfire smoke from the surrounding Los Padres National Forest is increasingly severe and the extraordinary coastal landscape otherwise maintains very good air quality throughout most of the year.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Poor
61.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
31.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
19.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
41.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
61.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
16.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
24.5/100
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):
Fair
32.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
17.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
25.5/100
Other Landmarks in Big Sur
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Big Sur Coast right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Big Sur Coast 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 Coast?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Big Sur Coast 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 Coast?
Conditions at Big Sur Coast vary noticeably across the seasons. In short, the shortest stretch of clean air usually falls in the wetter winter months, whereas 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 Big Sur Coast 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.
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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