Worst air pollution Mechelen, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Mechelen is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 40.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Mechelen is fair. AQI worsens to fair; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 36.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.

Mechelen's air quality reflects the Dijle river valley in the Flemish industrial corridor between Brussels and Antwerp, with vehicle traffic on the E19 and surrounding manufacturing and logistics industry contributing elevated NOₓ and PM2.5. The flat Flemish plain provides reasonable dispersal, while the broader Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt industrial background and cross-border pollution from Antwerp's port elevate regional baseline readings above typical western European urban averages.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 17:00

AQI:

Medium

40.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

6.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

16.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

40.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

6.3/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Fair

36.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

9.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

3.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

26.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

36.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.0/100

Pollen forecast in Mechelen

View pollen forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Mechelen right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Mechelen is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 40.1/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 40.1/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mechelen?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Mechelen will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 36.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 36.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Mechelen?

People in Mechelen tend to notice reduced air quality when local tree and grass pollen peaks, or because of vehicle traffic on the E19 and nearby manufacturing and logistics industry; the picture usually improves again once the season turns.

Are air quality levels in Mechelen 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.

Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in Belgium?

Check air quality in other popular cities:

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