Worst air pollution Desborough, today and tomorrow

Today (20 September): Air quality in Desborough is fair. AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 are fair; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 21.7/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Desborough is fair. NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 34.3/100). 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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Desborough sits within Northamptonshire, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Traffic on the A470 is the most significant local emissions source, especially at peak times. Residential heating and light industry add a modest seasonal contribution, though cooler northerly winds keep overall levels moderate.

Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Fair

21.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

21.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

20.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

12.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.7/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

6.7/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Fair

34.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

32.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

22.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

34.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

1.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

20.8/100

Pollen forecast in Desborough

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Desborough right now?

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Desborough is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 21.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 21.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Desborough?

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Desborough will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 34.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 34.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Desborough?

Desborough's air quality follows a familiar seasonal pattern most UK towns share. In summer, ozone can build up on sunny afternoons, though windier, warmer weather usually helps clear traffic-related pollution faster than in winter. Winter tends to be worst, with wood burning, home heating, and still, cold air trapping traffic fumes from the A470 closer to ground level. Spring and autumn don't usually cause much concern, sitting comfortably between winter's peak and summer's ozone spikes.

Are air quality levels in Desborough 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.

Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.

Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

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