Worst air pollution Edinburgh, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Edinburgh is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 29.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Edinburgh is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 24.7/100). 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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The A82 sees the heaviest traffic, and that shows up clearly in local roadside monitoring. Air quality in Edinburgh is shaped by its location in Edinburgh, City of, where vehicle traffic and everyday urban activity dominate local sources. Cooler northerly winds offer a degree of natural ventilation, keeping pollution broadly in line with comparable UK towns.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
29.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
24.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.1/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Edinburgh right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Edinburgh is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 29.4/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 29.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Edinburgh?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Edinburgh will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 24.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Edinburgh?
If you're tracking air quality in Edinburgh, expect it to move around quite a bit through the year. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days. The coldest months usually bring the worst readings, as heating and temperature inversions keep A82 emissions from dispersing normally. Spring and autumn are typically the easiest months, air-quality-wise, for most residents.
Are air quality levels in Edinburgh 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