Worst air pollution McAllen, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in McAllen is very poor. AQI and PM10 are very poor; O3 is fair; PM2.5 is medium; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (PM10: 88.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in McAllen is poor. AQI improves to poor; PM10 decreases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 75.6/100). 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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McAllen's air quality reflects the lower Rio Grande Valley's binational air quality challenge, with agricultural burning from South Texas and northern Mexico, vehicle emissions from the busy US-Mexico border crossings, and pesticide application from the surrounding irrigation agriculture contributing to a complex mixture of PM2.5, ozone precursors, and chemical emissions across this rapidly growing border metropolitan area.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 04:00

AQI:

Very poor

88.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

59.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Very poor

88.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

28.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

12.7/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Poor

75.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

54.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Poor

75.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

31.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

12.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

16.4/100

Pollen forecast in McAllen

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in McAllen

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in McAllen right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in McAllen is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 88.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (PM10: 88.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in McAllen?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in McAllen will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 75.6/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 75.6/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in McAllen?

Like most US cities, McAllen sees air quality shift from season to season. In short, the mildest, cleanest stretch typically falls in spring or autumn, whereas extended summer heat waves bring the year's worst ozone readings in the state's biggest metro areas. Gulf Coast humidity and inland heat can each add their own seasonal pollution patterns.

Are air quality levels in McAllen 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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