Worst air pollution Iowa City, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Iowa City is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 31.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Iowa City is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.6/100). 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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Iowa City's air quality benefits from the flat Iowa prairie providing excellent natural wind dispersal, with prevailing westerly winds from the Great Plains generally keeping readings at moderate to low levels in this University of Iowa city. Vehicle emissions from I-80 and Highway 218 are the primary local sources, while agricultural ammonia from the surrounding Johnson County corn and hog operations contributes secondary particulate formation, and summer regional ozone from Midwest agricultural and industrial sources is the primary warm-season concern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Fair
31.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
23.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
32.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
24.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.2/100
Pollen forecast in Iowa City
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Iowa City
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Iowa City right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Iowa City is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 31.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Iowa City?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Iowa City will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 32.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Iowa City?
Seasonal changes shape air quality across Iowa City. Typically, winter generally brings the cleanest air, aside from brief inversion episodes during calm cold spells, while both spring planting and autumn harvest bring short bursts of elevated dust and smoke. Wide-open terrain generally helps disperse pollution quickly once the wind picks up.
Are air quality levels in Iowa City 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: 9 August 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.
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