Worst air pollution Cloud Gate (The Bean) - Chicago, today and tomorrow
Today (18 July): Air quality in Cloud Gate (The Bean) is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 37.7/100).
Tomorrow (19 July 2026): Air quality in Cloud Gate (The Bean) is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 37.3/100). 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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Chicago's Cloud Gate air quality benefits from the Millennium Park's exceptional Lake Michigan lakefront position, with Lake Michigan's consistent lake winds providing reliable maritime ventilation around the famous reflective bean sculpture. Vehicle traffic on Columbus Drive contributes modest local sources, while the park's lakefront proximity and the lake's ventilation capability generally maintain Cloud Gate among Chicago's more moderately ventilated downtown public art landmarks throughout most of the year.
Today - 18 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
37.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 19 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Fair
37.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
13.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
8.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.0/100
Other Landmarks in Chicago
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cloud Gate (The Bean) right now?
On 18 July 2026, overall air quality in Cloud Gate (The Bean) is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.7/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 37.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cloud Gate (The Bean)?
On 19 July 2026, air quality conditions in Cloud Gate (The Bean) will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 37.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 37.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cloud Gate (The Bean)?
Cloud Gate (The Bean) follows Chicago's typical seasonal air quality pattern, as the cleanest stretches usually come in spring and fall, between the summer ozone season and the calmer winter pollution episodes; by contrast, summer heat waves are the main driver of poor air quality, as ozone builds under stagnant, humid conditions. Lake-effect winds can help clear the air on many days near the Great Lakes shoreline.
Are air quality levels in Cloud Gate (The Bean) 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: 18 July 2026 at 21:30 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