South Dakota Data
The following map shows the current Air Quality Index (AQI) for each monitoring site in the state that collects hourly data. The forecast legend in the map below pertains to those areas where the state maintains an air quality monitoring site as identified in the squares shown on the map. Site details are available by clicking on the site you are interested in. Scroll below the map to view the reports showing the actual pollutant concentrations. Warning: You may have to try opening the reports a few times before they open properly.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
In order to help individuals understand the quality of the air on a day-to-day basis, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created an AQI. The AQI is a number and color coded chart divided into the six categories and identified in the following chart.
Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern |
Numerical |
Meaning |
0 to 50 |
Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk |
|
51 to 100 |
Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
|
101 to 150 |
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. |
|
151 to 200 |
Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
|
201 to 300 |
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. |
|
301 to 500 |
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects |
The lower the number assigned that day, the better the quality of the air and the less health risk, while the higher the number assigned, the worse the quality of the air and the greater the health risk. Each color corresponds to a different level of health concern. The AQI provides information on five major air pollutants: Ground-level Ozone, Particulate Matter, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide and Carbon Monoxide.
To find the AQI National Forecast please visit www.airnow.gov
About the Data
The air quality data used in these maps have been obtained from automated instruments and have not been subjected to a quality assurance review to determine their accuracy. Since the information needed to make maps must be as "real-time" as possible, the data are displayed as soon as practical after the end of each hour. They are presented for public awareness and should not be considered final.
This web page provides the most current AQI and hourly averaged data available. For example, values shown for the noon hour are based on measurements taken from noon to 1:00 p.m. The noon average will not be calculated until after 1:00 p.m. This results in an apparent one-hour time lag in the data. We present our data in Local Standard Time. There will be differing amounts of data available depending on if the site is in the Central or Mountain Time Zone and Daylight Savings introduces another apparent one-hour time lag in the data.