Worst air pollution Cologne, today and tomorrow

On 21 July 2026, overall air quality in Cologne is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 27.2/100).

On 22 July 2026, air quality conditions in Cologne will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 24.3/100).

Air quality dips in Cologne mostly track linden, poplar, and ash pollen peaks and windless summer days when pollutants accumulate nearby; everyday driving through the area contributes a modest amount. Ragweed is generally a minor factor here compared with warmer parts of Germany. The clearest air tends to arrive after rain or on breezy afternoons.

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.

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.