Preston Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Preston is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 14.2/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Preston is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 15.3/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 14.2/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 9.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 9.6/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 3.8/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.2/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.1/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 0.6/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 15.3/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 15.3/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 12.6/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 12.4/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 4.1/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 3.5/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
The heart of Preston lies in a lightly developed area, where local traffic adds relatively little to air pollution. Open grassland and scrub can produce smoke during grass fires and some dust in dry spells. Winds here are fairly strong, averaging around 20 km/h, which helps disperse local pollution. Air arriving from elsewhere in the region adds to what is produced locally.
Fine particle levels climb from November to April, as wood burning and traffic combine with cold, still air averaging 5°C. February is usually the windiest month, averaging about 25 km/h, which helps keep the air clean. Short-term changes follow the weather: calm spells raise levels, while breezy or rainy days lower them.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Lancashire
Is air quality bad in Preston right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Preston is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 14.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (O3: 14.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Preston?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Preston will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 15.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 15.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Preston?
Fine particle levels climb from November to April, as wood burning and traffic combine with cold, still air averaging 5°C. February is usually the windiest month, averaging about 25 km/h, which helps keep the air clean. Short-term changes follow the weather: calm spells raise levels, while breezy or rainy days lower them.
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.
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. |