Worst air pollution Champaign, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Champaign is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 32.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Champaign is fair. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 33.5/100). 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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Champaign's air quality benefits from the flat Illinois agricultural plain providing excellent natural wind dispersal, with prevailing westerly Prairie State winds generally keeping readings at moderate to low levels. Vehicle emissions from I-57 and I-72 and the University of Illinois campus traffic are the primary local sources, while agricultural ammonia from the surrounding Champaign County corn and soy operations contributes secondary particulate formation and summer regional ozone from agricultural and Midwest industrial sources is the primary warm-season concern.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Fair

32.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

11.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

20.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

32.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

14.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Fair

33.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

13.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

17.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

16.7/100

Pollen forecast in Champaign

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Champaign

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Champaign right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Champaign is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 32.4/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Champaign?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Champaign will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 33.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Champaign?

Conditions in Champaign vary noticeably across the seasons. Typically, the mildest, cleanest weather usually falls in spring and autumn, while prolonged summer heat waves are when air quality most often dips into unhealthy territory. Calm, cold winter spells can occasionally allow local pollution to build up before the next weather system clears it.

Are air quality levels in Champaign 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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