Air quality index for Bucharest, as of (Europe/Bucharest). Values update hourly — see this page for the current reading and hourly forecast. Today's peak: AQI 66 at 22:00 local time.

airindex·today

Air Quality in Bucharest

Air quality in Bucharest is at its worst point for the day right now — AQI 65 (moderate). Today the index is led by fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), at 33 µg/m³. That concentration is about 2.2× the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³. The index barely moves today, holding between AQI 58 and AQI 66.

Now, Oct 17at 21:00
65Moderate
Good0–50
Moderate51–100
Sensitive groups101–150
Unhealthy151–200
Very unhealthy201–300
Hazardous301+

By pollutant

  • PM₂.₅ fine particles · sets the index nowAQI 65
  • O₃ ozoneAQI 23
  • PM₁₀ coarse particlesAQI 22
  • NO₂ nitrogen dioxideAQI 19
  • SO₂ sulfur dioxideAQI 3
  • CO carbon monoxideAQI 2
Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or intense outdoor activity

Modeled forecast data. AQI values come from atmospheric models (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not local monitoring stations. Readings can differ from ground-level conditions — for exact street-level values, consult an official air quality station near you. The forecast is calculated for a grid square, roughly 11 km across Europe and 45 km elsewhere, and air quality can vary within one square.

The next 48 hours

Hourly air quality index for Bucharest · Local time (GMT+3)

Today, Oct 17
Tomorrow, Oct 18
50
Peak 66 · 22:00
Peak 72 · 14:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00

Good ≤ 50

Now
Show hourly data table
TimeAQIPM₂.₅µg/m³PM₁₀µg/m³O₃µg/m³NO₂µg/m³SO₂µg/m³COmg/m³°C
Today
00:005832428.0534.60.408°
01:0059314215424.20.367°
02:0060293219293.50.347°
03:0061212431202.70.326°
04:0062192133152.50.286°
05:0063161933142.10.267°
06:0063161932152.40.266°
07:0064162028182.90.266°
08:0064161927213.70.266°
09:0064171927183.90.276°
10:0063151833134.00.248°
11:0063131637124.00.229°
12:0063101241114.20.2011°
13:00638.09.7519.23.40.1911°
14:00636.78.9627.02.70.1812°
15:00636.98.6645.62.50.1813°
16:00637.29.5638.52.70.1912°
17:00639.111639.62.70.2112°
18:0063131748223.30.2412°
19:0063293426324.50.3112°
20:0064344220364.90.3711°
21:0065334617385.70.4010°
22:0066334914365.10.3910°
23:0065354412425.20.3710°
Tomorrow
00:0066343711385.00.339°
01:006633338.0304.70.329°
02:006630309.0264.70.319°
03:0066283011253.30.308°
04:0067292912233.50.318°
05:0068283012223.50.308°
06:0069252911233.30.318°
07:007023269.0213.70.288°
08:0070222412204.10.288°
09:0071182117164.20.289°
10:0071161924114.60.2611°
11:00711518348.53.50.2412°
12:00711416417.53.90.2314°
13:00711113468.03.40.2215°
14:00721114565.62.90.2016°
15:00728.812604.62.30.1916°
16:00728.412665.82.10.1817°
17:00721014668.02.70.1917°
18:0072131750143.10.2316°
19:0072142146213.40.2515°
20:0071192438223.60.2715°
21:0070172235193.30.2514°
22:0068172235203.30.2514°
23:0067172332193.10.2514°

Today at a glance

Worst hour
22:00
peaks at AQI 66
Tomorrow
Much the same, peak 72
peak at 14:00

The week, hour by hour

Little changes tomorrow — the forecast peak is AQI 72 (moderate) around 14:00. Every day in the 5-day forecast peaks in the moderate band, from AQI 65 to AQI 72, with Sunday the highest.

Each cell is one forecast hour, coloured by air quality band. A ring marks the day's worst hour. The blue ring marks the current hour.

TodayOct 17
Peak 66 at 22:00
Overcast13° / 6°
SunOct 18
Peak 72 at 14:00
Overcast17° / 8°
MonOct 19
Peak 65 at 00:00
Light rain17° / 11°
TueOct 20
Peak 65 at 17:00
Fog18° / 12°
WedOct 21
Peak 72 at 20:00
Fog20° / 11°

Pollutants right now

Every pollutant on the same AQI scale as the big number above. The index only ever equals the worst score — pollutants don't add up.

050100150+
PM₂.₅fine particles · sets the index now
65
O₃ozone
23
PM₁₀coarse particles
22
NO₂nitrogen dioxide
19
SO₂sulfur dioxide
3
COcarbon monoxide
2
GoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardous

The colors cover a wide area, not a street. The forecast works in squares of roughly 11 km across Europe and 45 km elsewhere, so the air where you actually are can differ from the shade under the city.

Check air quality in: Sector 3 · Sector 5 · Rousse · Ploieşti · Sector 6

About Bucharest

CountryRomania, Bucharest
TimezoneEurope/Bucharest (UTC+3)
Coordinates44.43° N, 26.11° E
Population≈ 1.88M

Air quality in Bucharest — common questions

What is the air quality in Bucharest right now?

The current air quality index (AQI) in Bucharest is 65 (Moderate). Today's forecast peak is AQI 66 (Moderate) at 22:00 local time, and tomorrow's forecast peak is AQI 72. These values come from the CAMS forecast model, not from a local monitoring station.

When is air quality expected to be worst in Bucharest today?

Today's forecast puts the highest AQI in Bucharest at 22:00 in the evening, reaching 66. The largest contributor right now is PM₂.₅. Air quality shifts through the day with traffic, wind, how well the air mixes and sunlight, so the hourly chart above shows the pattern for today and tomorrow.

What will the air quality be in Bucharest tomorrow?

Tomorrow's forecast peak for Bucharest is AQI 72 (Moderate) around 14:00 local time, much the same as today's peak of 66. A next-day forecast is less certain than today's, so check back in the morning for the updated hourly curve.

Which pollutants drive the AQI in Bucharest today?

The air quality index in Bucharest is set by PM₂.₅ right now. The modelled level this hour is 33 µg/m³ — 2.2× the World Health Organization's 2021 guideline of 15 µg/m³. The others follow: O₃ (AQI 23), PM₁₀ (AQI 22), NO₂ (AQI 19), SO₂ (AQI 3), and CO (AQI 2).
Pollutant levels in Bucharest at the current hour
PollutantSub-indexLevelWHO 2021Vs guideline
PM₂.₅6533 µg/m³15 µg/m³ (24h)2.2×
O₃2317 µg/m³100 µg/m³ (8h)0.2×
PM₁₀2246 µg/m³45 µg/m³ (24h)1.0×
NO₂1938 µg/m³25 µg/m³ (24h)1.5×
SO₂35.7 µg/m³40 µg/m³ (24h)0.1×
CO20.40 mg/m³4 mg/m³ (24h)0.1×
The overall AQI is the highest of the six sub-indices, so the pollutant with the highest sub-index is the one setting the number shown on this page. Sub-indices are computed over the EPA's averaging periods, while the levels are modelled values for the current hour.

Is air quality improving in Bucharest this week?

Over the 5-day forecast, daily peak AQI in Bucharest stays between 65 and 72. These are peak values: each day still has cleaner and dirtier hours, which the chart above shows.

How is air quality forecast for Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania?

Air quality for Bucharest is forecast with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), operated by ECMWF. CAMS models hourly levels of PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Bucharest lies at 44.4° N in the Northern Hemisphere, which sets the seasonal pattern of sunlight that drives much of the chemistry behind these pollutants. AQI values on this page use the US EPA scale.
About the Air Quality Index

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate how clean or polluted the air is and what health effects may be of concern. The AQI runs from 0 to 500 and is divided into six color-coded categories: Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, and Hazardous.

How do I read the AQI values?

Lower AQI values mean cleaner air. An AQI of 0–50 (green) is Good, 51–100 (yellow) is Moderate, 101–150 (orange) is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151–200 (red) is Unhealthy, 201–300 (purple) is Very Unhealthy, and 301–500 (maroon) is Hazardous. When the AQI exceeds 100, air quality is considered unhealthy — at first for sensitive groups, then for everyone as the AQI rises.

Who are the sensitive groups?

Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, people who are pregnant, and people who are active outdoors. These groups are more likely to be affected when air quality is poor. If you are in a sensitive group, you can reduce your exposure by taking fewer and shorter outdoor walks when the AQI is elevated.

Which pollutants are measured?

The AQI covers five major pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone (O₃), particle pollution (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). An AQI value is calculated for each pollutant, and the highest value determines the overall AQI.

Where does the air quality data come from?

The hourly air quality data comes from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which provides global atmospheric composition forecasts. The data is accessed via Open-Meteo, which provides free, open-source weather and air quality APIs. The AQI categories and health guidance follow the EPA AirNow technical standard (EPA-454/B-24-002).

What are the health effects of poor air quality?

Poor air quality can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and allergies, and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Fine particles (PM₂.₅) can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes millions of premature deaths worldwide each year.

How often is the air quality forecast updated?

The CAMS air quality forecast is updated regularly using atmospheric models. Weather data such as temperature and cloud cover comes from Open-Meteo. The forecast provides up to 5 days of hourly air quality predictions.

AQI Levels (US EPA Standard)

Good (0–50) — Air quality is satisfactory — it's a great day to be active outside
Moderate (51–100) — Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or intense outdoor activity
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150) — Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity. Take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath
Unhealthy (151–200) — Everyone should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity. Sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion. Consider moving activities indoors
Very Unhealthy (201–300) — Everyone should avoid prolonged or intense outdoor exertion. Sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor physical activity. Move activities indoors or reschedule
Hazardous (301–500) — Health warning — everyone should avoid all outdoor physical activity. Stay indoors and keep activity levels light. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors

AQI categories and health guidance: EPA AirNow (EPA-454/B-24-002, May 2024). Air quality data: CAMS/Copernicus via Open-Meteo.