Checking local air quality can help you plan your day. The following chart includes today's forecast for air quality, access to tomorrow's forecast as well as real-time readings on EPA's Air Quality Index.
During ozone season — from March 1 through October 31 — the index reflects ozone forecast conditions and current conditions based on data from Missouri’s ambient air quality monitors for ozone and fine particulate matter. Real-time readings may change during the day depending on weather conditions and levels of emissions so it's a good idea to check them frequently.
AirNow.gov: the federal government's website focusing on air quality for ozone and particulate matter. To get forecast and current readings, use the search engine at the top of the page.
Direct links from AirNow.gov:
Preliminary Air Monitoring Data from All Sites
MoDNR's Current Air Quality Index Reports
The department updates the Current Air Quality Index Report for Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield areas hourly every day. All data is recorded using Central Standard Time, regardless of local time changes to daylight-saving time. The reports below use current real time data and is an approximation of the official Air Quality Index for today. The official Air Quality Index, also known as AQI, for any day cannot be calculated until all air pollutant data for that day is available (approximately 8 a.m. the following day).
During the ozone season this real time Air Quality Index report is used as the basis for the Ozone Action Day programs in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. An index of 100 represents a threshold level of pollution, which may cause health problems in normally healthy humans. However, sensitive individuals or highly active individuals may experience health effects at lower concentrations of pollutants.
Agilaire is a tool that provides an alternative resource and map, which shows the air quality index for other pollutants that are not currently part of AirNow.gov.
Understanding the Air Quality Index Anchor
EPA’s color-coded index chart below provides additional information regarding the various levels of health concerns. Numerical values of 100 or less on the Air Quality Index meets the federal standard for a pollutant, which EPA has set to protect public health.
EnviroFlash: a service that sends out bulletins about air quality. You pick the bulletins you want. Choices include daily forecasts and/or notifications of action days — days forecasted orange to maroon on EPA's Air Quality Index.
| AQI Color | Level of Concern | Index Values | Description of Air Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Good | 0 to 50 | Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
| Yellow | Moderate | 51 to 100 | Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
| Orange | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101 to 150 | Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. |
| Red | Unhealthy | 151 to 200 | Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
| Purple | Very Unhealthy | 201 to 300 | Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. |
| Maroon | Hazardous | 301 and higher | Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. |
Contact Information
Air Pollution Control Program
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States
