AirNow city lookup

Live city AQI with honest PM2.5 conversion

Select a supported city to inspect the current reporting-area reading and forecast. Static baselines, partial API responses, and non-PM2.5 readings are never presented as a live particulate equivalent.

Data status

Partial live data

AirNow

AirNow returned only part of the requested dataset. Available observations or forecasts are shown without substituting the planning baseline for missing live fields.

Current area-level AQI

AQI 33

Pollutant: O3

Reporting area: Central LA CO, CA

Observed: 2026-07-20 20:00 PST

Good

If this PM2.5 level persisted for 24 hours

Cigarette equivalence is unavailable because the current reading is not confirmed as PM2.5.

Forecast

2026-07-21

AQI 56

PM2.5 · Moderate

API adapter details

The default AirNow latitude/longitude endpoints are scheduled for retirement in fall 2026. The server adapter supports replacement URLs through AIRNOW_OBSERVATION_ENDPOINT and AIRNOW_FORECAST_ENDPOINT.

Request generated: Jul 21, 2026, 5:08 AM UTC

What “live” means here

AirNow current values are reporting-area NowCast readings, not a sensor at your exact GPS point.

The API returns pollutant-specific observations. A PM2.5 conversion is shown only when the selected current observation is PM2.5.

The 24-hour cigarette equivalent asks what the particulate comparison would be if the current level persisted; it is not a measured personal dose.

Observation and forecast requests fail independently, so one useful result remains visible when the other source is unavailable.

AirNow API documentation

Trust Signals

Live-data limitations and sources

Review methodology

Review policy

July 20, 2026. We update supporting pages when calculator logic, live data behavior, or source framing changes.

Primary sources

AQI uses EPA / AirNow breakpoint logic. Cigarette-equivalent framing follows Berkeley Earth’s PM2.5 interpretation.

Live data layer

City pages use EPA AirNow where supported, with cached fallbacks and planning baselines if the API fails or coverage is unavailable.

Live AQI questions

Why do I see a planning baseline instead of live data?

AirNow may not cover the country, the server key may not be configured, or the API may be unavailable. Baselines are labeled and are not used as current readings.

Why is the cigarette equivalent disabled for ozone?

The equivalence model is based on PM2.5 mass concentration. Ozone is a gas and cannot be converted with that particulate formula.

Is the reading exactly at my location?

No. The AirNow current endpoint returns a reporting-area NowCast selected near the city coordinates.