Worst air pollution McLean, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in McLean is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 48.6/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in McLean is medium. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 51.8/100). 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.

McLean's air quality reflects the northern Virginia suburban corridor in Fairfax County adjacent to the CIA headquarters and the Tysons Corner commercial district, with vehicle emissions from I-495 Beltway and the George Washington Parkway contributing local sources. The broader Washington DC metropolitan airshed contributes regional ozone, while the Potomac River gorge provides some natural ventilation and McLean's affluent residential and government character generally maintains moderate conditions relative to the broader mid-Atlantic background.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Medium

48.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

6.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

48.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

8.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Medium

51.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

6.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

51.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

9.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.2/100

Pollen forecast in McLean

View pollen forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in McLean right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in McLean is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 48.6/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 48.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in McLean?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in McLean will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at medium at 51.8/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 51.8/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in McLean?

McLean's air quality has a clear seasonal rhythm. Typically, once summer ozone season ends, winter typically offers the cleanest air, while extended summer heat waves, often worsened by regional haze, bring the toughest air quality stretch. Dense urban traffic corridors add a persistent background level of pollution that varies less by season than ozone does.

Are air quality levels in McLean 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