Worst air pollution Preston, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Preston is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 28.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Preston is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 28.1/100). 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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Preston sits within Lancashire, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Easterly winds generally provide reasonable ventilation, keeping levels close to typical UK urban averages for a town this size. Commuter traffic feeding onto the M9 adds a further, consistent contribution to local readings.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
28.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Fair
28.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.2/100
Pollen forecast in Preston
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Preston right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Preston is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 28.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Preston?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Preston will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 28.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 28.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Preston?
Ask a local in Preston and they'll tell you air quality changes noticeably from season to season. Winter mornings can be the trickiest, with cold, still conditions trapping M9 traffic fumes and smoke from home fires close to the ground. Warmer months swap one problem for another — less smoke and heating pollution, but more ozone on the sunniest days. The shoulder seasons generally bring the mildest readings of the year.
Are air quality levels in Preston 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