Worst air pollution Richmond, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Richmond is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 37.9/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Richmond is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 increases to fair; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 40.2/100). 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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Richmond's air quality in California reflects the San Pablo Bay waterfront, with the Chevron Richmond Refinery generating elevated industrial SO₂, NOₓ, and PM2.5 alongside vehicle traffic on I-80. The bay and Carquinez Strait breezes provide afternoon ventilation, while the refinery concentration makes Richmond's air quality distinctly more industrially impacted than surrounding Bay Area cities.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
37.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
12.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Medium
40.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
22.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
25.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
40.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.4/100
Pollen forecast in Richmond
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Richmond right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Richmond is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 37.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Richmond?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Richmond will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 25.4/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 40.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Richmond?
Richmond experiences a distinct seasonal swing in air quality — winter typically brings the cleanest stretch, once occasional rain clears the basin, whereas from August into October, wildfire smoke can add sharp particulate spikes on top of the usual summer ozone. The mountains ringing the basin can trap pollution close to the ground for days when winds are calm.
Are air quality levels in Richmond 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