Worst air pollution Rochdale, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Rochdale is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM10: 17.2/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Rochdale is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 increases to fair; PM10 increases to fair; NO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 34.7/100). 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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Rochdale's air quality reflects its position within Rochdale, with local traffic and the town's built-up core as the main contributors. Prevailing westerlies do most of the work keeping things in check, more so than any local policy or infrastructure change. Traffic on the A34 is the most significant local emissions source, especially at peak times.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Good
17.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
17.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.7/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
34.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
34.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
19.6/100
Pollen forecast in Rochdale
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Rochdale right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Rochdale is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 17.2/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM10: 17.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Rochdale?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Rochdale will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 34.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 34.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Rochdale?
Spring and autumn usually sit somewhere in between, so it's really the extremes of the year worth watching. Here's the thing about Rochdale: air quality has a clear seasonal rhythm. Through the colder months, readings near the A34 often rise, since chimney smoke and stagnant air stop pollutants clearing away. Come summer, it's ozone rather than particulates that's the bigger concern, especially on still, sunny days.
Are air quality levels in Rochdale 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 14:33 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.
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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