Columbus Circle, Manhattan Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (10 October): Air quality in Columbus Circle is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (NO2: 18.5/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (11 October 2026): Air quality in Columbus Circle is fair. AQI worsens to fair; NO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 20.7/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 10 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Good | 18.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 12.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 7.1/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 18.5/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 17.9/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.3/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 4.6/100 |
Tomorrow - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 20.7/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 11.8/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 6.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 20.7/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 16.5/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.7/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 5.3/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
With buildings covering much of the area around this part of Manhattan, traffic and other urban emissions are the biggest local influence on air quality. In cold weather, wood burning and other home heating become a noticeable source of fine particles. Parks and street trees provide a modest buffer against traffic pollution. On some days, pollution drifting in from farther away outweighs local sources.
From November to March, temperatures near -1°C let smoke and particles from home heating and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. By contrast, ozone is the main concern from June to August, when sunny days averaging 25°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. Stronger winds around March, about 15 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in New York
Is air quality bad in Columbus Circle right now?
On 10 October 2026, overall air quality in Columbus Circle is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 18.5/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (NO2: 18.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Columbus Circle?
On 11 October 2026, air quality conditions in Columbus Circle will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 20.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (NO2: 20.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Columbus Circle?
From November to March, temperatures near -1°C let smoke and particles from home heating and traffic build up, especially on cold, still mornings. By contrast, ozone is the main concern from June to August, when sunny days averaging 25°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. Stronger winds around March, about 15 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
Are air quality levels in Columbus Circle 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |