Worst air pollution Erbil, today and tomorrow
Today (22 September): Air quality in Erbil is very poor. AQI, PM10, and NO2 are very poor; PM2.5 and PM1 are poor; O3 is fair; SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 98.9/100).
Tomorrow (23 September 2026): Air quality in Erbil is very poor. PM2.5 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (PM10: 100/100). 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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Erbil's air quality reflects the flat Iraqi Kurdistan Erbil plain at 415 metres at the Zagros Mountain piedmont, with vehicle density, construction boom, and oil-related industrial corridor generating elevated PM2.5. Windblown Iraqi Desert and Syrian steppe dust generates elevated PM10 during shamal events, while the Kurdistan regional government's rapid development has dramatically expanded vehicle and construction emissions throughout most of the year.
Today - 22 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Very poor
98.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
70.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Very poor
84.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
98.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.3/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
15.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
63.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 23 September | Pollution peaks at 21:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Very poor
83.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Very poor
100/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
83.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
13.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
16.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
66.5/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Erbil right now?
On 22 September 2026, overall air quality in Erbil is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 98.9/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 98.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Erbil?
On 23 September 2026, air quality conditions in Erbil will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (PM10: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Erbil?
Erbil usually sees its poorest air quality when road traffic and ongoing construction work coincide with periods when dry, windy weather picks up. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels. This is most noticeable during spring and autumn wind events.
Are air quality levels in Erbil 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: 22 September 2026 at 20:32 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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