Worst air pollution Kōbe, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Kōbe is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 65.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Kōbe is poor. NO2 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 74.0/100). 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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Kōbe's air quality benefits from its exceptional Osaka Bay and Seto Inland Sea coastal position, with consistent Kii Channel and Pacific sea breezes providing reliable maritime ventilation. Vehicle traffic on surrounding expressways and the port, steel, and service corridor contribute local sources, while the Rokko Mountains rising steeply inland create dramatic topographic variation and Kobe generally maintains moderate to good conditions for a major Japanese industrial port city throughout most of the year.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Poor

65.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

20.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

34.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

65.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

13.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

11.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

24.3/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Poor

74.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

26.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

40.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

74.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

16.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

16.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

33.1/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Kōbe right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Kōbe is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 65.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 65.3/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kōbe?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Kōbe will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 74.0/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 74.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Kōbe?

In Kōbe, traffic on the surrounding roads, steel, cement, and chemical production, together with harbour and shipping traffic are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when dry, windy weather picks up. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Maritime airflow normally ventilates the area well, though calmer spells let levels rise.

Are air quality levels in Kōbe 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.

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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