Manchester Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (16 October): Air quality in Manchester is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 25.4/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (17 October 2026): Air quality in Manchester is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM10: 25.4/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 16 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 18.0/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 5.4/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 5.3/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 17.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 11.0/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.9/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 2.5/100 |
Tomorrow - 17 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 17.6/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 11.8/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 14.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 6.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.7/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 1.3/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Traffic is the main source of air pollution in Manchester, especially on the M60 ring road, the M56, the Mancunian Way and the congested roads into the city centre. Manchester Airport adds emissions to the south. Wood burners add fine particles in residential areas in winter, especially on cold, still evenings in the suburbs. Moorland fires on the Pennines can also bring heavy smoke, as in summer 2018, when the Saddleworth Moor and Winter Hill fires sent smoke across Greater Manchester for weeks.
Smoke from moorland fires can bring Manchester its worst air in dry summers, as in June and July 2018, when the Saddleworth Moor fire covered parts of the city in a thick haze. In winter, cold, still evenings, averaging around 5°C in January, can trap traffic fumes and wood smoke near the ground. Spring can bring episodes of fine particles from farming and industry across England and Europe. For most of the year, westerly winds and rain from the Atlantic keep Manchester's air clean.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Manchester
Is air quality bad in Manchester right now?
On 16 October 2026, overall air quality in Manchester is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 18.0/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 25.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Manchester?
On 17 October 2026, air quality conditions in Manchester will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.6/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM10: 25.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Manchester?
Smoke from moorland fires can bring Manchester its worst air in dry summers, as in June and July 2018, when the Saddleworth Moor fire covered parts of the city in a thick haze. In winter, cold, still evenings, averaging around 5°C in January, can trap traffic fumes and wood smoke near the ground. Spring can bring episodes of fine particles from farming and industry across England and Europe. For most of the year, westerly winds and rain from the Atlantic keep Manchester's air clean.
Are air quality levels in Manchester 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |