Worst air pollution Hickory, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Hickory is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 66.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Hickory is fair. AQI improves to medium; NO2 decreases 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.
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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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Hickory's air quality reflects the North Carolina Piedmont foothills' position in the furniture manufacturing corridor, with vehicle emissions from I-40 and the surrounding furniture, fibre optics, and manufacturing industry contributing local sources. The gentle Catawba Valley terrain and the Blue Ridge foothills to the northwest provide modest topographic variation, while summer ozone from regional vehicle emissions and the naturally high biogenic Appalachian VOC emissions is the primary warm-season concern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Poor
66.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
66.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.1/100
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):
Fair
20.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
46.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
11.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.0/100
Pollen forecast in Hickory
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Hickory right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Hickory 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 Hickory?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Hickory will be better than today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 20.4/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 50.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Hickory?
Hickory experiences a distinct seasonal swing in air quality. Typically, mild winter weather usually brings the year's cleanest air, while hot, humid summer days bring the highest ozone risk, amplified by natural emissions from the dense surrounding forests. Occasional agricultural or prescribed-burning smoke can add short-lived particulate spikes outside the main summer ozone season.
Are air quality levels in Hickory 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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.
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