Worst air pollution Santa Monica, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Santa Monica is fair. AQI, PM10, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 31.2/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Santa Monica is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 29.9/100). 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 Monica's air quality benefits from its direct Pacific Ocean coastal exposure, with consistent onshore sea breezes providing reliable maritime ventilation along this major Los Angeles beach city. Vehicle emissions from the I-10 and SR-1 PCH are the primary local sources, while the coastal position provides significantly better conditions than the deeper Los Angeles basin and Santa Monica Bay's open geometry ensures one of Southern California's most reliably clean coastal urban environments.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
31.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
29.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
26.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.1/100
Pollen forecast in Santa Monica
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Santa Monica right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Santa Monica is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 31.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Santa Monica?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Santa Monica will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 29.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 29.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica follows a fairly predictable seasonal air quality pattern: the cleanest air usually comes in winter, when storms periodically flush pollution out of the basin, but 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 Santa Monica 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