Worst air pollution Madrid, today and tomorrow

On 19 July 2026, overall air quality in Madrid is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.3/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 32.3/100).

On 20 July 2026, air quality conditions in Madrid will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 33.7/100).

When is air quality typically worst in Madrid? December through February is often the toughest stretch, driven by temperature inversions that keep exhaust and heating smoke from dispersing on still days. Air quality usually improves through spring, helped by more frequent frontal systems that bring rain and stronger winds to disperse local emissions. The long, hot days of summer favour ozone build-up, which can spike on the stillest, sunniest afternoons. The transition into autumn generally brings cleaner conditions, as more frequent rainfall and lower temperatures curb ozone formation. The continental interior's hot, dry summers and cold, still winters make it prone to sharper seasonal swings than coastal Spain.

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.