Worst air pollution Cary, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): 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 10:00 AM (O3: 65.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Cary is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 53.5/100). 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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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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Poor
65.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
19.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
65.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Medium
53.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
53.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.6/100
Pollen forecast in Cary
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cary right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Cary is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 65.0/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 65.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cary?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Cary will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 53.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 53.5/100).
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.
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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