Worst air pollution Heart of Chicago - Chicago, today and tomorrow

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Heart of Chicago is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.8/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 32.8/100).

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Heart of Chicago will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 34.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 34.7/100).

Winter is usually when particulate matter climbs highest across the city, as heavy heating demand and traffic emissions combine under still, cold air that traps pollutants close to the ground. By summer, ozone becomes the more pressing urban issue, since dense traffic emissions combined with intense sun and heat fuel ozone formation across the city.

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.

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.