Worst air pollution Brainerd, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Brainerd is poor. AQI and NO2 are poor; PM10, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5 is medium; CO and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 73.1/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Brainerd is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; NO2 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 85.4/100). 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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Air quality in Brainerd is driven mostly by clean central Minnesota air — tourist-season traffic adds only a mild seasonal bump. None of this is unusual for a place with Brainerd's particular geography and climate. None of this replaces checking the current forecast before heading outdoors in Brainerd.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Poor
73.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
30.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
73.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
21.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Very poor
85.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
26.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
85.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
23.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.5/100
Pollen forecast in Brainerd
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Brainerd right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Brainerd is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 73.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 73.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Brainerd?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Brainerd will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 85.4/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 85.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Brainerd?
Conditions in Brainerd vary noticeably across the seasons: once the harvest dust settles, winter typically offers the cleanest stretch of the year, but summer heat and humidity drive ozone formation, and agricultural dust can spike particulate levels during planting and harvest. Wide-open terrain generally helps disperse pollution quickly once the wind picks up.
Are air quality levels in Brainerd 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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