Boston Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Boston is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 22.1/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Boston is good. AQI improves to good; NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 18.5/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 22.1/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 7.5/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 4.1/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 22.1/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 16.2/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.2/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.4/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 10.0/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 18.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 7.7/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 3.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 18.5/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 17.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.2/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.9/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 10.0/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
With buildings covering much of the area around the center of Boston, traffic and other urban emissions are the biggest local influence on air quality. Sea breezes along the coast usually help ventilate the area. In cold weather, wood burning and other home heating become a noticeable source of fine particles.
Cold spells from November to March, at around -2°C on average, are when smoke from home heating and traffic lingers longest. From July to August, strong sunshine and temperatures around 23°C drive ozone formation, with levels peaking in the afternoon. Day to day, calm and dry conditions let pollution build, while wind and rain clear it away.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Massachusetts
Is air quality bad in Boston right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Boston is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 22.1/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 22.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Boston?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Boston will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 18.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Boston?
Cold spells from November to March, at around -2°C on average, are when smoke from home heating and traffic lingers longest. From July to August, strong sunshine and temperatures around 23°C drive ozone formation, with levels peaking in the afternoon. Day to day, calm and dry conditions let pollution build, while wind and rain clear it away.
Are air quality levels in Boston 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. |