Worst air pollution Barnstaple, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Barnstaple is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 35.5/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Barnstaple is fair. AQI improves to medium; NO2 increases to fair; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100). 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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Commuter traffic feeding onto the A90 adds a further, consistent contribution to local readings. Barnstaple's air quality reflects its position within Devon, with local traffic and the town's built-up core as the main contributors. The dominant maritime airflow generally provide reasonable ventilation, keeping levels close to typical UK urban averages for a town this size.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
35.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
48.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
48.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.7/100
Pollen forecast in Barnstaple
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Barnstaple right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Barnstaple is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.5/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 35.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Barnstaple?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Barnstaple will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 21.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Barnstaple?
Barnstaple doesn't have one fixed air quality level — it swings between two extremes each year. Come summer, it's ozone rather than particulates that's the bigger concern, especially on still, sunny days. Through the colder months, readings near the A90 often rise, since chimney smoke and stagnant air stop pollutants clearing away. Spring and autumn usually sit somewhere in between, so it's really the extremes of the year worth watching.
Are air quality levels in Barnstaple 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