Worst air pollution Mexico City, today and tomorrow
Today (23 August): Air quality in Mexico City is poor. AQI and PM10 are poor; PM2.5 is moderate; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (PM10: 64.7/100).
Tomorrow (24 August 2026): Air quality in Mexico City is moderate. AQI improves to moderate; PM10 decreases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM10: 54.8/100). 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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Mexico City's air quality reflects the Valley of Mexico's severe topographic trap at 2,240 metres, with the surrounding Sierra Nevada and Sierra de las Cruces ranges creating near-complete basin enclosure that concentrates vehicle emissions from the Periferico and the extraordinary metropolitan vehicle density under persistent temperature inversions. The thermal inversion problem and the basin's poor dispersal maintain Mexico City among the Americas' most persistently challenging major urban air quality environments, while the elevated altitude paradoxically worsens ozone formation throughout the year.
Today - 23 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Poor
64.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
50.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Poor
64.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 24 August | Pollution peaks at 17:00
AQI:
Moderate
54.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
43.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
54.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.5/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mexico City right now?
On 23 August 2026, overall air quality in Mexico City is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 64.7/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (PM10: 64.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mexico City?
On 24 August 2026, air quality conditions in Mexico City will be better than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 54.8/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM10: 54.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Mexico City?
In Mexico City, vehicle traffic is the main local source, with conditions worsening when the surrounding valley traps air close to the ground. The surrounding valley terrain holds pollutants near the surface rather than letting them disperse. Heat and sunlight combine with emissions to form ozone at ground level.
Are air quality levels in Mexico City 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: 24 August 2026 at 02:28 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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