Worst air pollution Hickory, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Hickory is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, and PM1 are fair; NO2 is medium; SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 65.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Hickory is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM10 decreases to good; 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.
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
Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.
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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Poor
65.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
27.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
50.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
65.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
13.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.1/100
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):
Fair
24.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
48.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
53.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
13.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.6/100
Pollen forecast in Hickory
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Hickory right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Hickory 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 Hickory?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Hickory will be better than today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 24.9/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 53.5/100).
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.
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: 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