Worst air pollution Kirkcaldy, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Kirkcaldy 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 Kirkcaldy 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 A9 sees the heaviest traffic, and that shows up clearly in local roadside monitoring. Being part of Fife, Kirkcaldy sees an air quality profile that's largely down to traffic and general town-centre activity. Inland breezes from the surrounding countryside 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

15.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

11.5/100

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

13.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

24.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.7/100

Pollen forecast in Kirkcaldy

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Kirkcaldy right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Kirkcaldy 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 Kirkcaldy?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Kirkcaldy 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 Kirkcaldy?

Ask a local in Kirkcaldy and they'll tell you air quality changes noticeably from season to season. Winter mornings can be the trickiest, with cold, still conditions trapping A9 traffic fumes and smoke from home fires close to the ground. Summer sunshine can drive up ozone locally, though overall air generally moves and clears more freely than in winter. 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 Kirkcaldy 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