Worst air pollution Boulder, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Boulder is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 34.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Boulder is fair. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 38.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Boulder's air quality benefits from its Front Range position at 1,655 metres with clean Rocky Mountain westerly airflows providing generally excellent ventilation. Vehicle emissions from US-36 are the primary local source, while summer wildfire smoke from Colorado and Wyoming forests is increasingly frequent, and occasional winter Front Range inversions temporarily trap vehicle and wood-burning emissions.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Fair
34.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
20.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Fair
38.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
13.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
12.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
38.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.7/100
Pollen forecast in Boulder
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Boulder right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Boulder is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 34.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Boulder?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Boulder will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 38.0/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 38.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Boulder?
Like most US cities, Boulder sees air quality shift from season to season — a brief window in autumn tends to bring the year's best air, before winter inversions set in, whereas summer brings regional wildfire smoke, while winter brings its own inversion-driven pollution episodes. Higher-elevation, more exposed locations generally avoid the worst of the valley inversion episodes.
Are air quality levels in Boulder 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 States?
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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