Worst air pollution Rio Rancho, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Rio Rancho is fair. PM10 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 41.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Rio Rancho is medium. PM10 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 43.1/100). 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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Rio Rancho's air quality reflects the Rio Grande valley's partial topographic enclosure in the Albuquerque metropolitan basin, with vehicle emissions from NM-528 and the surrounding Intel semiconductor manufacturing complex contributing local sources. Windblown high desert dust contributes PM10 episodes, while summer ozone from the broader Albuquerque metropolitan vehicle emissions and the New Mexico desert heat are the primary warm-season concerns throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Medium
41.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
21.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
41.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
43.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
43.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.8/100
Pollen forecast in Rio Rancho
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Rio Rancho right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Rio Rancho is fair. PM10 is the main pollutant at 21.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 41.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Rio Rancho?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Rio Rancho will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 43.1/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 43.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Rio Rancho?
Rio Rancho's air quality has a clear seasonal rhythm: winter is generally the cleanest season, with cooler temperatures and less dust in the air, but summer heat drives ozone formation, and blowing dust from spring winds can push particulate levels up abruptly. Sudden haboob-style dust storms can appear with little warning during the spring wind season.
Are air quality levels in Rio Rancho 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.
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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