Death Valley Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Death Valley is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 60.8/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Death Valley is poor. PM2.5 increases to fair; PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 69.8/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 60.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 15.2/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 16.3/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 9.7/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Poor | 60.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.7/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.4/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 4.8/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 69.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 24.7/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 23.5/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 11.4/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Poor | 69.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.2/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 11.8/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this site in Death Valley, traffic is light and there are few concentrated sources of air pollution. Lying in a basin at around 720 m, the area is prone to temperature inversions that hold pollutants near the ground when winds drop. Dust raised by wind from dry, open ground is a recurring source of coarse particles. On some days, pollution drifting in from farther away outweighs local sources.
In January, cold air settles into the basin on calm nights and traps emissions from wood burning and traffic near the ground; temperatures average about 8°C, with winds of around 10 km/h. By contrast, ozone is the main concern from May to October, when sunny days averaging 34°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in California
Is air quality bad in Death Valley right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Death Valley is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 60.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 60.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Death Valley?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Death Valley will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 69.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 69.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Death Valley?
In January, cold air settles into the basin on calm nights and traps emissions from wood burning and traffic near the ground; temperatures average about 8°C, with winds of around 10 km/h. By contrast, ozone is the main concern from May to October, when sunny days averaging 34°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon.
Are air quality levels in Death Valley 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |