Worst air pollution Porthcawl, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Porthcawl is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and PM1 are fair; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 36.4/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Porthcawl is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; PM2.5 increases to moderate; NO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 45.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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The A40 generates consistent traffic-related NO₂ and PM2.5, particularly during peak commuting hours. Being part of Bridgend, Porthcawl sees an air quality profile that's largely down to traffic and general town-centre activity. Thanks to shifting coastal winds, pollution rarely lingers for long, which keeps average readings fairly unremarkable by UK standards.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
36.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
36.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.9/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
21.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
45.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
45.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
38.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
37.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.3/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
15.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
38.8/100
Pollen forecast in Porthcawl
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Porthcawl right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Porthcawl is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 36.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Porthcawl?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Porthcawl will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 45.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 45.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Porthcawl?
Porthcawl's air quality follows a familiar seasonal pattern most UK towns share. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days. In deep winter, a lack of wind lets A40 traffic fumes and woodsmoke settle instead of blowing through. 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 Porthcawl 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: 20 September 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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