Worst air pollution Hillcrest - San Diego, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Hillcrest is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM10: 35.9/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Hillcrest is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 28.0/100). 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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San Diego's Hillcrest air quality reflects the urban LGBTQ+ neighbourhood, with vehicle traffic on University Avenue and the surrounding dense mixed residential and commercial character contributing local sources. The Pacific sea breeze provides afternoon ventilation, while the neighbourhood's walkable character and the tree-lined residential streets maintain moderate San Diego metropolitan readings and Hillcrest generally tracks at typical inner San Diego neighbourhood levels throughout most of the year.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
35.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
35.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
28.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.0/100
Other Landmarks in San Diego
Sports venues in San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Hillcrest right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Hillcrest is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.9/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM10: 35.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Hillcrest?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Hillcrest will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 28.0/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 28.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Hillcrest?
Hillcrest's air quality follows a clear seasonal pattern. Typically, winter typically brings the cleanest stretch, once occasional rain clears the basin, while summer and early autumn bring the highest ozone levels, and wildfire smoke can spike particulate readings sharply from August through October. The mountains ringing the basin can trap pollution close to the ground for days when winds are calm.
Are air quality levels in Hillcrest 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