Worst air pollution Ponta Delgada, today and tomorrow

Today (21 July): Air quality in Ponta Delgada is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 45.5/100).
Tomorrow (22 July 2026): Air quality in Ponta Delgada is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 39.1/100). 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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Ponta Delgada's air quality benefits from its exceptional Atlantic Ocean position on São Miguel island in the Azores, with consistent Atlantic trade winds and westerlies providing reliable maritime ventilation around this Portuguese island capital. Vehicle traffic on the EN1-2A coastal road and local operations are the primary sources, while the surrounding ocean exposure generally maintains excellent air quality, though the active volcanic and fumarolic activity in the Furnas-Sete Cidades corridor contributes localised SO₂ and H₂S seasonally.

Today - 21 July | Pollution peaks at 18:00

AQI:

Medium

45.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

19.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

45.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

12.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 22 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Fair

39.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

10.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

39.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.7/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Ponta Delgada right now?

On 21 July 2026, overall air quality in Ponta Delgada is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 45.5/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 45.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ponta Delgada?

On 22 July 2026, air quality conditions in Ponta Delgada will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 39.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Ponta Delgada?

Residents in Ponta Delgada are most likely to notice reduced air quality when laurel pollen peaks, or due to vehicle traffic on the EN1-2A coastal road and local operations; beyond that, the area's natural ventilation keeps air quality consistently favourable through the months that follow.

Are air quality levels in Ponta Delgada 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: 21 July 2026 at 16:20 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