Balboa Park, San Diego Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Balboa Park is fair. AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 are fair; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 39.9/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Balboa Park is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 AM (PM10: 24.0/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 39.9/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 29.4/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 39.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 2.6/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 15.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.9/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.3/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.8/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 24.0/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 22.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 24.0/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 4.6/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.1/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.0/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.9/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this location in San Diego, a mix of built-up land and open space means traffic is an important, but not overwhelming, local pollution source. Sea breezes along the coast usually help ventilate the area. Trees nearby help filter some particles from the air, though in hot weather they also emit compounds that feed ozone formation. Air arriving from elsewhere in the region adds to what is produced locally.
Ozone is the main concern from July to September, when sunny days averaging 24°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. In contrast, air near roads is often at its worst from January to March, when nights cool to around 12°C and the air turns still. The risk of wildfire smoke peaks from May to November, when dry vegetation burns easily.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in California
Is air quality bad in Balboa Park right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Balboa Park is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.9/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 39.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Balboa Park?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Balboa Park will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.0/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 AM (PM10: 24.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Balboa Park?
Ozone is the main concern from July to September, when sunny days averaging 24°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. In contrast, air near roads is often at its worst from January to March, when nights cool to around 12°C and the air turns still. The risk of wildfire smoke peaks from May to November, when dry vegetation burns easily.
Are air quality levels in Balboa Park 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. |