Worst air pollution Salinas, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Salinas is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (O3: 35.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Salinas is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 40.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Salinas' air quality in California benefits from its Monterey Bay coastal position, with consistent onshore Pacific fog and sea breezes from the bay providing reliable maritime ventilation. The primary local concerns are agricultural pesticide and dust emissions from the Salinas Valley's intensive lettuce, broccoli, and strawberry farming operations, which represent one of California's most significant agricultural air quality corridors, alongside vehicle emissions from US-101, while the coastal position provides generally better conditions than the enclosed San Joaquin Valley to the east.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Fair
35.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
8.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Medium
40.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
8.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
40.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.2/100
Pollen forecast in Salinas
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Salinas
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Salinas right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Salinas is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.3/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (O3: 35.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Salinas?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Salinas will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 40.3/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 40.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Salinas?
Salinas experiences a distinct seasonal swing in air quality. Typically, winter rains provide the only real relief from an otherwise persistent haze, while hot, sunny summer conditions drive persistent ozone problems, compounded by wildfire smoke risk into early autumn. Coastal breezes offer some relief compared to inland valley locations that see heavier smog buildup.
Are air quality levels in Salinas 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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