Worst air pollution Watsonville, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Watsonville is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 60.3/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Watsonville is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 44.2/100). 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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Watsonville's air quality reflects the Pajaro Valley's partial coastal enclosure between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan Range, with vehicle emissions from SR-1 and US-101 and the surrounding strawberry and vegetable farming operations contributing agricultural dust and ammonia alongside primary vehicle sources. The Monterey Bay maritime breezes provide afternoon ventilation on most days, while summer wildfire smoke from the surrounding Santa Cruz Mountains is an increasingly frequent seasonal concern.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Poor
60.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
60.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
44.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
44.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.3/100
Pollen forecast in Watsonville
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Watsonville right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Watsonville is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 60.3/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 60.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Watsonville?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Watsonville will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 44.2/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 44.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Watsonville?
Like most US cities, Watsonville sees air quality shift from season to season: winter typically brings the cleanest stretch, once occasional rain clears 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 Watsonville 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