Worst air pollution West Des Moines, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in West Des Moines is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 31.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in West Des Moines is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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West Des Moines' air quality benefits from the flat Iowa prairie providing excellent wind dispersal, with vehicle emissions from I-235 and the surrounding financial services and technology campus corridor contributing relatively modest local sources. Agricultural ammonia from surrounding Polk County farming contributes secondary particulate formation, while summer regional ozone from Midwest agricultural and industrial sources is the primary warm-season concern and the flat Iowa terrain maintains moderate conditions.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Fair
31.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
9.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
32.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
9.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.2/100
Pollen forecast in West Des Moines
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in West Des Moines right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in West Des Moines is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 31.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in West Des Moines?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in West Des Moines will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 32.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 32.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in West Des Moines?
Air quality in West Des Moines shifts across the year: once the harvest dust settles, winter typically offers the cleanest stretch of the year, but spring planting and autumn harvest can push particulate levels up with dust and agricultural burning. Wide-open terrain generally helps disperse pollution quickly once the wind picks up.
Are air quality levels in West Des Moines 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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