Worst air pollution Reading, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Reading is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 34.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Reading is fair. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 43.6/100). 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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Traffic on the M74 is the most significant local emissions source, especially at peak times. Reading sits within Reading, and its air quality profile is driven mainly by road traffic and the density of the centre. Thanks to prevailing westerlies, pollution rarely lingers for long, which keeps average readings fairly unremarkable by UK standards.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Fair
34.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
43.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
27.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
43.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.4/100
Pollen forecast in Reading
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Reading right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Reading is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 34.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Reading?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Reading will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 27.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 43.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Reading?
In Reading, pollution levels don't stay flat — winter and summer look pretty different. Summer brings a different issue — stronger sunlight can push up ozone levels on hot, sunny days, even though traffic pollution itself often disperses more easily. In deep winter, a lack of wind lets M74 traffic fumes and woodsmoke settle instead of blowing through. Spring and autumn are typically the easiest months, air-quality-wise, for most residents.
Are air quality levels in Reading 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United Kingdom?
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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