Worst air pollution Bilbao, today and tomorrow

On 19 July 2026, overall air quality in Bilbao is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 31.3/100).

On 20 July 2026, air quality conditions in Bilbao will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 38.2/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 38.2/100).

What is the yearly air quality pattern like in Bilbao? Winter tends to bring the year's weakest readings, as stagnant, cold air lets heating smoke and vehicle emissions build up rather than clear away. Spring usually brings an improvement as more frequent rain and stronger winds help clear the air and wash out pollutants that built up over winter. 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. Being close to the Atlantic, this area benefits from regular rainfall and wind that help keep pollution from building up for long.

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.

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.