Worst air pollution Palo Alto, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Palo Alto is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 45.8/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Palo Alto is medium. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 44.7/100). 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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Palo Alto's air quality benefits from its San Francisco Bay Peninsula position, with consistent Bay Delta breezes and marine layer conditions providing reliable maritime ventilation. Vehicle emissions from US-101 and the Stanford University and Silicon Valley technology campus are the primary local sources, while the bay's open geometry provides good ventilation and summer wildfire smoke from surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains and East Bay hills is an increasingly frequent seasonal concern.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
45.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
13.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
45.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
44.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
7.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
44.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.3/100
Pollen forecast in Palo Alto
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Palo Alto right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Palo Alto is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 45.8/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 45.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Palo Alto?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Palo Alto will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at medium at 44.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 44.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto sees air quality change through the year. In short, winter rains provide the only real relief from an otherwise persistent haze, whereas summer sunshine and heat drive some of the worst ozone readings in the country. Coastal breezes offer some relief compared to inland valley locations that see heavier smog buildup.
Are air quality levels in Palo Alto 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United States?
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app