Worst air pollution Pontefract, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Pontefract 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: 28.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Pontefract is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 27.1/100). 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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Pontefract sits within Wakefield, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Prevailing westerlies help ventilate the town centre, keeping air quality at moderate levels typical for the region. The M74 sees the heaviest traffic, and that shows up clearly in local roadside monitoring.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Fair
28.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
27.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.9/100
Pollen forecast in Pontefract
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pontefract right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Pontefract is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 28.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pontefract?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Pontefract will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 27.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pontefract?
Spring and autumn don't usually cause much concern, sitting comfortably between winter's peak and summer's ozone spikes. There's a clear yearly cycle to air quality in Pontefract if you look closely. In deep winter, a lack of wind lets M74 traffic fumes and woodsmoke settle instead of blowing through. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days.
Are air quality levels in Pontefract 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