Worst air pollution Playa del Carmen, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Playa del Carmen is poor. AQI and PM10 are poor; PM2.5 is medium; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 78.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Playa del Carmen is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; PM2.5 increases to poor; PM10 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (PM10: 93.4/100). 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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Playa del Carmen's air quality benefits from its exceptional Caribbean Sea coastal position on the Yucatan Peninsula's Riviera Maya, with consistent northeast Caribbean trade winds providing reliable and powerful maritime ventilation. Vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the concentrated tourism, resort, and services corridor contribute seasonal local sources, while the outstanding Caribbean coastal exposure and the consistent trade wind geometry generally maintain Playa del Carmen among Mexico's cleaner major coastal resort environments throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
78.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
57.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Poor
78.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
20.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 01:00
AQI:
Very poor
93.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
66.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Very poor
93.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.3/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Playa del Carmen right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Playa del Carmen is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 78.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM10: 78.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Playa del Carmen?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Playa del Carmen will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 93.4/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (PM10: 93.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Playa del Carmen?
Air quality in Playa del Carmen tends to be worse when traffic emissions together with tourism-related traffic build up and onshore breezes fall calm. Maritime airflow normally ventilates the area well, though calmer spells let levels rise. Areas further inland without this ventilation tend to fare worse.
Are air quality levels in Playa del Carmen 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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