Worst air pollution Folkestone, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Folkestone is medium. AQI, NO2, and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 46.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Folkestone is fair. AQI worsens to fair; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 32.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 01:00
AQI:
Medium
46.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
46.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
41.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
32.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
32.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.3/100
Pollen forecast in Folkestone
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Folkestone right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Folkestone is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 46.9/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (NO2: 46.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Folkestone?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Folkestone will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 32.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 32.5/100).
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.
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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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