Worst air pollution Outer Banks, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Outer Banks is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 65.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Outer Banks is medium. AQI improves to medium; 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

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In Outer Banks, Atlantic sea breeze is the main influence on air quality, and ocean exposure keeps pollutant levels consistently low. These factors combine to give Outer Banks a fairly typical seasonal air quality pattern for this part of the country. As with most US destinations, conditions here are best understood by season rather than by a single yearly average.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00

AQI:

Poor

65.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

17.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

65.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

14.2/100

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):

Good

15.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

9.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

53.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

6.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

14.6/100

Pollen forecast in Outer Banks

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Outer Banks

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Outer Banks right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Outer Banks 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 Outer Banks?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Outer Banks will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 53.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 53.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Outer Banks?

Outer Banks's air quality has a clear seasonal rhythm. Typically, winter is typically the cleanest season, with mild temperatures and fewer stagnant air episodes, while summer heat, humidity, and emissions from surrounding forests combine to drive ozone levels up. Prescribed burns are more common in the cooler months and can add brief smoke episodes.

Are air quality levels in Outer Banks 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