Worst air pollution Jackson Park - Chicago, today and tomorrow

Today (18 July): Air quality in Jackson Park is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 37.7/100).
Tomorrow (19 July 2026): Air quality in Jackson Park is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 37.3/100). 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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Chicago's Jackson Park air quality benefits from its Lake Michigan South Side lakefront position adjacent to the South Shore Cultural Center, with Lake Michigan's consistent southerly and westerly lake winds providing reliable maritime ventilation. Vehicle traffic on Lake Shore Drive contributes local sources, while the park's lakefront position and the lake's ventilation capability generally maintain Jackson Park among Chicago's more moderately ventilated South Side green spaces throughout most of the year.

Today - 18 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Fair

37.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

12.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

15.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

37.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 19 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00

AQI:

Fair

37.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

13.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

8.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

37.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.0/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Jackson Park right now?

On 18 July 2026, overall air quality in Jackson Park is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.7/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 37.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Jackson Park?

On 19 July 2026, air quality conditions in Jackson Park will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 37.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 37.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Jackson Park?

At Jackson Park, air quality tends to follow Chicago's broader seasonal rhythm — between summer ozone and occasional winter inversions, spring and fall are the year's cleanest stretch, whereas the hottest, most humid summer days bring the year's worst ozone readings. Calm, cold winter spells can occasionally allow local pollution to build up before the next weather system clears it.

Are air quality levels in Jackson Park 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: 18 July 2026 at 21:30 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