Worst air pollution Harlow, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Harlow is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 34.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Harlow is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 43.6/100). 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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Being part of Essex, Harlow sees an air quality profile that's largely down to traffic and general town-centre activity. Inland breezes from the surrounding countryside generally provide reasonable ventilation, keeping levels close to typical UK urban averages for a town this size. Commuter traffic feeding onto the M11 adds a further, consistent contribution to local readings.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Fair

34.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

8.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

8.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

34.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Medium

43.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

11.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

3.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

11.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

43.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

10.9/100

Pollen forecast in Harlow

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Harlow right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Harlow is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 34.0/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Harlow?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Harlow will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 43.6/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 43.6/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Harlow?

You can roughly predict Harlow's air quality just by knowing the time of year. In summer, ozone can build up on sunny afternoons, though windier, warmer weather usually helps clear traffic-related pollution faster than in winter. The coldest months usually bring the worst readings, as heating and temperature inversions keep M11 emissions from dispersing normally. Spring and autumn are typically the easiest months, air-quality-wise, for most residents.

Are air quality levels in Harlow 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