Worst air pollution Cary, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Cary is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 66.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Cary is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Cary's air quality benefits from the Research Triangle's relatively clean technology-focused economic base, with vehicle emissions from I-540 and US-1 the primary local source in this affluent North Carolina Wake County suburb. The gentle Piedmont terrain provides reasonable wind dispersal, and Cary's planned community design with extensive green space and tree canopy provides better natural ventilation than comparable NC cities, while summer ozone from the broader southeastern US regional airshed remains the primary warm-season concern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Poor
66.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
9.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
66.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Medium
50.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
14.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.1/100
Pollen forecast in Cary
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cary right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Cary is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 66.4/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 66.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cary?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Cary will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 50.9/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cary?
Cary experiences a distinct seasonal swing in air quality. Typically, once summer humidity fades, winter typically offers the most consistently clean air, while hot, humid summer days bring the highest ozone risk, amplified by natural emissions from the dense surrounding forests. Prescribed burns are more common in the cooler months and can add brief smoke episodes.
Are air quality levels in Cary 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in United States?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.