Worst air pollution Richland, today and tomorrow

Today (15 July): Air quality in Richland is fair. NO2 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 42.8/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Richland is medium. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 41.5/100). 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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Richland's air quality reflects the Columbia Basin's partial topographic enclosure in the Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington State, with vehicle emissions from SR-240 and the surrounding Hanford Nuclear Reservation's operations generating radioactive and conventional industrial emissions alongside primary vehicle sources. The Columbia River corridor provides some ventilation, while summer wildfire smoke from surrounding Washington forests is an increasingly severe seasonal concern and the nuclear site's operations represent Richland's most distinctive local emission source.

Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Medium

42.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

12.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

37.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

42.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

14.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 04:00

AQI:

Medium

41.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

11.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

19.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

41.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

9.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

13.4/100

Pollen forecast in Richland

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Richland right now?

On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Richland is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 37.5/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 42.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Richland?

On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Richland will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 41.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 41.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Richland?

Air quality across Richland rises and falls with the seasons. Typically, rain-heavy winters keep the air unusually clean compared to much of the country, while the driest weeks of late summer bring the greatest risk of smoke drifting in from regional wildfires. Winter temperature inversions can briefly trap wood-smoke in low-lying valleys, but these episodes are usually short-lived.

Are air quality levels in Richland 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.

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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