Worst air pollution Roanoke, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Roanoke is fair. PM2.5 and NO2 are fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 44.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Roanoke is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 38.5/100). 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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Roanoke's air quality reflects the Roanoke River valley's position in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, with the surrounding Appalachian ridgelines creating significant topographic enclosure that concentrates vehicle emissions from I-81 and US-220 under winter temperature inversions. The Blue Ridge Parkway ridge above the city provides cleaner air at elevation, while the valley floor can trap industrial and residential heating emissions during calm anticyclonic periods, and summer ozone from the naturally high biogenic Appalachian VOC emissions is a recurring concern.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Medium
44.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
26.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
34.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
44.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
17.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Fair
38.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
24.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
26.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
38.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.1/100
Pollen forecast in Roanoke
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Roanoke
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Roanoke right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Roanoke is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 34.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 44.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Roanoke?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Roanoke will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 38.5/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 38.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Roanoke?
Roanoke's air quality follows a clear seasonal pattern: the calmest air of the year usually arrives well after the summer ozone season fades, but extended summer heat waves, often worsened by regional haze, bring the toughest air quality stretch. Suburban and rural areas generally see less of the persistent traffic-driven pollution that affects the urban core.
Are air quality levels in Roanoke 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