Worst air pollution Durham, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Durham is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 28.9/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Durham is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 29.0/100). 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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Durham sits within County Durham, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Easterly winds usually ensure decent dispersal, so levels generally stay within the moderate range typical of UK towns. The nearby A34 corridor contributes steady vehicle emissions that affect roadside readings.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Fair

28.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

16.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

28.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

12.6/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Fair

29.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

16.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

12.5/100

Pollen forecast in Durham

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Durham right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Durham is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 28.9/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Durham?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Durham will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 29.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 29.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Durham?

Here's the thing about Durham: air quality has a clear seasonal rhythm. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days. Winter mornings can be the trickiest, with cold, still conditions trapping A34 traffic fumes and smoke from home fires close to the ground. 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 Durham 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.

Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United Kingdom?

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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