Downtown Portales, Portales Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Downtown Portales is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 AM (O3: 31.2/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Downtown Portales is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM10: 35.5/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 31.2/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 20.3/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 26.0/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 14.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 31.2/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.5/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.9/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 35.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 31.6/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 35.5/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 15.7/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 26.2/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.7/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.4/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 4.1/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this site in Portales, dense development means road traffic is the main local source of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. In cold weather, wood burning and other home heating become a noticeable source of fine particles. Winds here are fairly strong, averaging around 20 km/h, which helps disperse local pollution. On some days, pollution drifting in from farther away outweighs local sources.
From May to September, strong sunshine and temperatures around 28°C drive ozone formation, with levels peaking in the afternoon. The cooler months, December to February, see more fine particles, as home heating and traffic add emissions while frequent calm, cold mornings around 3°C keep pollution near the ground. April is usually the windiest month, averaging about 20 km/h, which helps keep the air clean.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in New Mexico
Is air quality bad in Downtown Portales right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Downtown Portales is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.2/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 AM (O3: 31.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Downtown Portales?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Downtown Portales will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 35.5/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM10: 35.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Downtown Portales?
From May to September, strong sunshine and temperatures around 28°C drive ozone formation, with levels peaking in the afternoon. The cooler months, December to February, see more fine particles, as home heating and traffic add emissions while frequent calm, cold mornings around 3°C keep pollution near the ground. April is usually the windiest month, averaging about 20 km/h, which helps keep the air clean.
Are air quality levels in Downtown 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.
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. |