Worst air pollution Folkestone, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Folkestone is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (NO2: 39.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Folkestone is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 37.7/100). 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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Folkestone sits within Kent, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Commuter traffic feeding onto the A1 adds a further, consistent contribution to local readings. Thanks to prevailing westerlies, pollution rarely lingers for long, which keeps average readings fairly unremarkable by UK standards.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00

AQI:

Fair

39.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

39.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

28.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

10.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Fair

37.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

16.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

37.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

7.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

13.1/100

Pollen forecast in Folkestone

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Folkestone right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Folkestone is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.8/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (NO2: 39.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Folkestone?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Folkestone will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 37.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 37.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Folkestone?

Folkestone doesn't have one fixed air quality level — it swings between two extremes each year. Summer brings a different issue — stronger sunlight can push up ozone levels on hot, sunny days, even though traffic pollution itself often disperses more easily. Through the colder months, readings near the A1 often rise, since chimney smoke and stagnant air stop pollutants clearing away. Spring and autumn tend to be the calmer, more moderate stretches by comparison.

Are air quality levels in Folkestone 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