Worst air pollution Vārānasi, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Vārānasi is fair. PM2.5 is fair; AQI, NO2, O3, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:30 PM (O3: 51.5/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Vārānasi is poor. AQI worsens to poor; PM2.5 decreases to medium; O3 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:30 PM (O3: 62.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Vārānasi's air quality reflects the flat Uttar Pradesh Ganga River valley at 80 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the silk weaving, tourism, and industrial corridor contributing local sources. The dry winter northeast monsoon concentrates Gangetic Plain emissions extensively from October to March, while the flat alluvial terrain's minimal topographic dispersal maintains Varanasi among northern India's more persistently challenged sacred city environments, with the Ganga's religious and ecological significance adding unique cultural context to its air quality challenges.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 13:30
AQI:
Medium
51.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
35.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
51.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
48.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
40.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:30
AQI:
Poor
62.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
41.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
57.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
62.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
43.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
45.2/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Vārānasi right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Vārānasi is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 35.2/100. Pollution peaks around 1:30 PM (O3: 51.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Vārānasi?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Vārānasi will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 62.7/100. Pollution peaks around 3:30 PM (O3: 62.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Vārānasi?
The biggest local contributors to pollution in Vārānasi are road traffic together with seasonal tourism traffic, particularly once dry spells bring strong winds. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Rains during the wetter months typically wash pollutants out of the air.
Are air quality levels in Vārānasi 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.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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