Worst air pollution Hamhŭng, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Hamhŭng is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 36.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Hamhŭng is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 decreases to medium; SO2 increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 40.7/100). 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.

Hamhŭng's air quality reflects the flat North Korean eastern coastal position on the Sea of Japan, with vehicle traffic and the chemical — Hamhung being North Korea's chemical industrial capital — and manufacturing corridor generating elevated industrial SO₂ and PM2.5. The Sea of Japan provides limited maritime ventilation, while the extraordinary chemical industrial scale and winter coal heating make Hamhung North Korea's most distinctively chemical industrial-defined coastal environment.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Fair

36.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

11.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

3.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

24.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

36.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

15.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

16.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

15.5/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

40.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

27.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

40.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

27.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

13.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

32.8/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Hamhŭng right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Hamhŭng is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 36.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Hamhŭng?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Hamhŭng will be similar to today, with O3 forecast at fair at 33.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 40.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Hamhŭng?

In Hamhŭng, road traffic, petrochemical and refining operations, and manufacturing and food processing are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when dry spells bring strong winds. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels. Onshore breezes usually help clear the air, but pollution can build up when winds are light.

Are air quality levels in Hamhŭng 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.

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