Worst air pollution National Cathedral - Washington, today and tomorrow

Today (30 August): Air quality in National Cathedral is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 39.5/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in National Cathedral is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 31.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Washington DC's National Cathedral air quality benefits from the Mount Saint Alban elevated position at 88 metres — Washington DC's highest point — with the elevated location providing marginally better dispersal than the flat District floor. Vehicle traffic on Wisconsin Avenue and the surrounding residential and institutional character contribute modest local sources, while the cathedral close's extraordinary 57-acre woodland provides exceptional natural filtration and the elevated position generally maintains among DC's more pleasant major landmark environments.

Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Fair

39.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

8.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

3.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

39.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

8.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

6.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Fair

31.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

11.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

3.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

31.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

5.0/100

Other Landmarks in Washington

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in National Cathedral right now?

On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in National Cathedral is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 39.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in National Cathedral?

On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in National Cathedral will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 31.4/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in National Cathedral?

Air quality around National Cathedral changes with the seasons, as the calmest air of the year usually arrives well after the summer ozone season fades; by contrast, the hottest, most humid summer weeks bring the year's highest ozone readings. Suburban and rural areas generally see less of the persistent traffic-driven pollution that affects the urban core.

Are air quality levels in National Cathedral 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.

Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?

Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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.

Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.

Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

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