Worst air pollution Santa Maria, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Santa Maria is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 34.3/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Santa Maria is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 32.1/100). 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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Santa Maria's air quality in California benefits from the Santa Maria Valley's partial coastal exposure to Pacific Ocean sea breezes channelled through the Vandenberg corridor, providing more maritime ventilation than typical inland Central California locations. Vehicle emissions from US-101 and the surrounding agricultural operations in the Santa Maria berry and wine country contribute local sources, while the Vandenberg Space Force Base's rocket launch operations add occasional localised emissions, and the coastal valley position generally provides better conditions than the enclosed San Joaquin Valley to the east.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
34.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
27.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
32.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.6/100
Pollen forecast in Santa Maria
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Santa Maria right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Santa Maria is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.3/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 34.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Santa Maria?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Santa Maria will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 32.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 32.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Santa Maria?
Santa Maria's air quality follows a clear seasonal pattern. In short, winter typically brings the cleanest stretch, once occasional rain clears the basin, whereas hot, sunny summer conditions drive persistent ozone problems, compounded by wildfire smoke risk into early autumn. The mountains ringing the basin can trap pollution close to the ground for days when winds are calm.
Are air quality levels in Santa Maria 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