Worst air pollution Santa Maria, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Santa Maria is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 42.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Santa Maria is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 31.6/100). 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Medium
42.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
42.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Fair
31.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.6/100
Pollen forecast in Santa Maria
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Santa Maria
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Santa Maria right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Santa Maria is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 42.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 42.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Santa Maria?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Santa Maria will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.6/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 31.6/100).
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.
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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