Worst air pollution Portales, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Portales is poor. AQI and PM10 are poor; O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5 is medium; NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (PM10: 61.1/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Portales is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM10 decreases to medium; NO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM10: 42.9/100). 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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In Portales, dry eastern New Mexico wind is the main influence on air quality, and windy spring days can raise dust across the open plains. Portales doesn't see much year-to-year variation in this basic pattern, though individual weeks can differ. Local topography and prevailing winds both play a role in how quickly conditions change.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Poor
61.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
48.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Poor
61.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
14.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
23.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
42.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
42.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Medium
42.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
28.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
27.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.5/100
Pollen forecast in Portales
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Portales
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Portales right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Portales is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 61.1/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (PM10: 61.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Portales?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Portales will be better than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 28.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM10: 42.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Portales?
Portales experiences a distinct seasonal swing in air quality. In short, the cooler winter months typically bring the cleanest air of the year, whereas spring winds can kick up sudden dust storms that spike particulate levels sharply for a day or two. Sudden haboob-style dust storms can appear with little warning during the spring wind season.
Are air quality levels in Portales 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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