Worst air pollution Thornton, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Thornton is fair. AQI, NO2, and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 34.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Thornton is fair. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 38.0/100). 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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Thornton's air quality reflects the Denver northern metropolitan area's Front Range position, with vehicle emissions from I-25 and E-470 the primary local sources in this rapidly growing Adams County suburb. The Rocky Mountains provide clean westerly airflows on most days, while the Denver metropolitan area's temperature inversion problem affects the entire Front Range urban corridor, and the proximity to the Sand Creek industrial corridor and the Commerce City petroleum refinery to the south elevates background industrial PM2.5 above the northern suburban residential average.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00

AQI:

Fair

34.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

12.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

22.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

34.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 06:00

AQI:

Fair

38.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

14.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

38.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

8.9/100

Pollen forecast in Thornton

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Thornton right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Thornton is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 34.1/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Thornton?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Thornton will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 38.0/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 38.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Thornton?

Air quality across Thornton rises and falls with the seasons. In short, spring and autumn generally bring the cleanest, most stable air, whereas valley and basin locations can see pollution trapped under cold air for days during winter inversions. Higher-elevation, more exposed locations generally avoid the worst of the valley inversion episodes.

Are air quality levels in Thornton 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