Worst air pollution Vallcarca - Barcelona, today and tomorrow

Today (19 July): Air quality in Vallcarca is fair. PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 48.6/100).
Tomorrow (20 July 2026): Air quality in Vallcarca is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 58.4/100). 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

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In Vallcarca, port and shipping emissions and construction dust play the biggest role locally. Levels vary sharply between the busy centre and quieter residential districts. Sea breeze usually helps clear the air by early afternoon.

Today - 19 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Medium

48.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

27.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

23.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

48.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

13.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

24.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 20 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Medium

58.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

18.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

9.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

24.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

58.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

16.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

19.1/100

Other Landmarks in Barcelona

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Vallcarca right now?

On 19 July 2026, overall air quality in Vallcarca is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 27.9/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 48.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Vallcarca?

On 20 July 2026, air quality conditions in Vallcarca will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 24.9/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 58.4/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Vallcarca?

What is the yearly air quality pattern like in Vallcarca? The year's lowest air quality readings tend to cluster in winter, when high-pressure systems suppress the mixing that would otherwise clear away exhaust and smoke. Spring generally sees a gradual recovery, driven by more frequent rain showers and stronger breezes that prevent pollutants from settling. Summer's intense heat and sunshine create ideal conditions for ozone formation, sometimes overshadowing the lower traffic volumes typical of the season. Autumn usually sees a steady return to cleaner conditions as the ozone-favouring heat of summer fades and rainfall picks up. The mild, breezy Mediterranean climate generally supports good dispersal, though summer crowds and Saharan dust intrusions can occasionally push levels higher.

Are air quality levels in Vallcarca 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: 19 July 2026 at 05:53 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