Worst air pollution Near East Side - Columbus, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Near East Side is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 38.1/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Near East Side is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; NO2 increases to moderate; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (NO2: 40.4/100). 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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In Near East Side, dense traffic and everyday urban activity are the main drivers of local particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide levels. Nearby trees, about 100-200 meters off, help trap a portion of this particulate load before it spreads. Actual daily readings vary with weather, time of day, and short-term local activity.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 18:00
AQI:
Fair
38.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
20.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
24.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Moderate
40.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
40.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
21.3/100
Other Landmarks in Columbus
Sports venues in Columbus
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Near East Side right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Near East Side is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 38.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (NO2: 38.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Near East Side?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Near East Side will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 40.4/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (NO2: 40.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Near East Side?
Winter tends to bring the year's worst particulate spikes here, driven by the combination of winter heating demand and dense traffic under calm, cold conditions. Summer shifts the concern toward ground-level ozone across the city, as heat and sunlight react with traffic-sourced emissions to drive photochemical smog. Milder spring and fall weather, paired with more reliable wind, usually gives the clearest air of the year.
Are air quality levels in Near East Side 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: 20 September 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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