Worst air pollution Basel, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Basel is fair. NO2 and PM1 are fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Basel is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 34.4/100). 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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Basel's air quality reflects its position at the Rhine-Aare confluence at the Swiss-German-French tri-border, with the surrounding pharmaceutical and chemical industry — including Novartis and Roche's global headquarters — generating significant industrial emissions alongside vehicle traffic on the A2 and A3 motorways. The Rhine valley provides the primary ventilation corridor, while the Basel Rhine bend creates a natural concentration zone, and the Alsatian plain to the west and the Black Forest to the east create partial topographic enclosure under calm conditions.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
48.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
24.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
48.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 18:00
AQI:
Fair
34.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
25.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.7/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Basel right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Basel is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 24.4/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Basel?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Basel will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 34.4/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 34.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Basel?
Basel sees its worst air quality on windless winter mornings, when vehicle traffic and cross-border industry pool across the plain under conditions typical of this wide river valley. From spring, conditions steadily pick up over the Rhine plain, and summer stays mostly clear aside from a rare ozone spike, with autumn usually just as settled.
Are air quality levels in Basel 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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