Sabino Canyon, Tucson Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Sabino Canyon is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 are moderate; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (PM10: 48.4/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Sabino Canyon is fair. AQI improves to fair; PM2.5 decreases to fair; PM10 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 24.8/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Moderate | 48.4/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 41.3/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 48.4/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 0.9/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 15.9/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.0/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.4/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 24.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 21.7/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 24.8/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 2.9/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 15.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.3/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 0.7/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 1.7/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
With little dense development around this location in Tucson, local traffic emissions are modest. Dust raised by wind from dry, open ground is a recurring source of coarse particles. On some days, pollution drifting in from farther away outweighs local sources. Exhaust from nearby roads is usually highest close to busy streets and junctions.
Cold spells in January, at around 7°C on average, are when smoke from home heating and traffic lingers longest. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from May to October, around 29°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. From April to June, hot, dry weather raises the risk of wildfires, and their smoke can cover the area in haze.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Arizona
Is air quality bad in Sabino Canyon right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Sabino Canyon is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 48.4/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (PM10: 48.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sabino Canyon?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Sabino Canyon will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 24.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sabino Canyon?
Cold spells in January, at around 7°C on average, are when smoke from home heating and traffic lingers longest. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from May to October, around 29°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. From April to June, hot, dry weather raises the risk of wildfires, and their smoke can cover the area in haze.
Are air quality levels in Sabino Canyon 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |