Worst air pollution Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds - Sturgis, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds is fair. NO2 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (O3: 40.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 35.8/100). 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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Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds' air quality reflects the flat South Dakota Black Hills foothills position, with the Sturgis Rally's extraordinary annual concentration of over 700,000 motorcycles generating among the US's most dramatic temporary vehicle NOₓ and PM2.5 surges during the August event week. The flat terrain allows some dispersal, while the extraordinary concentrated motorcycle exhaust during the Rally week creates a truly unique annual air quality event, with generally good conditions during non-rally periods throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Medium
40.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
30.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
40.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
35.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
35.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.7/100
Other Landmarks in Sturgis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 30.4/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (O3: 40.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 35.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 35.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds?
Conditions at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds vary noticeably across the seasons — winter generally brings the cleanest air, aside from brief inversion episodes during calm cold spells, whereas summer heat waves and the dust of planting and harvest seasons are the main annual concerns. Wide-open terrain generally helps disperse pollution quickly once the wind picks up.
Are air quality levels in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Grounds 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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