Lake Forest, Dollar Point Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (6 October): Air quality in Lake Forest is moderate. AQI and NO2 are moderate; PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 47.3/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (7 October 2026): Air quality in Lake Forest is fair. AQI improves to fair; NO2 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 35.2/100).
Explore Forecasts
Get More in Our App
Local pollen and air quality forecasts, interactive pollen maps and route profiles
Features and forecast availability vary by region.
Air Quality
Today - 6 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Moderate | 47.3/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 26.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 35.1/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Moderate | 47.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 34.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.8/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 5.1/100 |
Tomorrow - 7 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 35.2/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 23.3/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 30.4/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 35.2/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 30.5/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.0/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.8/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this location in Dollar Point, traffic is light and there are few concentrated sources of air pollution. Trees nearby help filter some particles from the air, though in hot weather they also emit compounds that feed ozone formation. Breezes off the nearby water usually help clear pollutants away. Air arriving from elsewhere in the region adds to what is produced locally.
From November to April, temperatures near 0°C, with winds of around 10 km/h, let smoke and particles from wood burning and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. Later in the year, hot afternoons from July to August, averaging 22°C in the warmest month, are when ozone is most likely to build up. Wildfire smoke is most likely from June to September, sometimes turning the sky hazy for days.
Get pollen & AQ on Strava
Follow your environmental exposure and performance with the free Airmine-Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Resource Hub
Air quality forecast neighborhoods 2 neighborhoods
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in California
Is air quality bad in Lake Forest right now?
On 6 October 2026, overall air quality in Lake Forest is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 47.3/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 47.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Lake Forest?
On 7 October 2026, air quality conditions in Lake Forest will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 35.2/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (NO2: 35.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Lake Forest?
From November to April, temperatures near 0°C, with winds of around 10 km/h, let smoke and particles from wood burning and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. Later in the year, hot afternoons from July to August, averaging 22°C in the warmest month, are when ozone is most likely to build up. Wildfire smoke is most likely from June to September, sometimes turning the sky hazy for days.
Are air quality levels in Lake Forest 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. |