Air quality index for Muscat, as of (Asia/Muscat). Values update hourly — see this page for the current reading and hourly forecast. Today's peak: AQI 119 at 19:00 local time.

airindex·today

Air Quality in Muscat

Muscat is now at AQI 108 (unhealthy for sensitive groups), below today's high of AQI 119 in the same band around 19:00. Today the index is led by ozone, at 93 µg/m³. The index holds above 100 between 17:00 and 22:00, easing outside those hours. Today's hourly values spread widely, from AQI 76 up to AQI 119. The cleanest stretch of the day is around 02:00–16:00, when the index drops to AQI 76.

Now, Oct 17at 21:00
108Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Good0–50
Moderate51–100
Sensitive groups101–150
Unhealthy151–200
Very unhealthy201–300
Hazardous301+

By pollutant

  • O₃ ozone · sets the index nowAQI 108
  • PM₂.₅ fine particlesAQI 75
  • PM₁₀ coarse particlesAQI 35
  • SO₂ sulfur dioxideAQI 7
  • NO₂ nitrogen dioxideAQI 6
  • CO carbon monoxideAQI 2
Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity
Take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath

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 Muscat · Local time (GMT+4)

Today, Oct 17
Tomorrow, Oct 18
50
100
Peak 119 · 19:00
Peak 75 · 07:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00

Good ≤ 50 · Moderate ≤ 100

Now
Show hourly data table
TimeAQIPM₂.₅µg/m³PM₁₀µg/m³O₃µg/m³NO₂µg/m³SO₂µg/m³COmg/m³°C
Today
00:008421388718210.2028°
01:008320368217190.1928°
02:008219357716180.1928°
03:008118357215160.1828°
04:008018307514150.1827°
05:007918307115170.1927°
06:007819326717190.1927°
07:007721336718190.1928°
08:007622337616180.1829°
09:007622389012150.1833°
10:007623401059.7130.1733°
11:007626421239.6130.1834°
12:0076314514211150.1934°
13:0076354715611160.2034°
14:0076344716311140.2034°
15:007633461659.3120.1933°
16:008430451618.69.40.1833°
17:0010227421489.08.70.1732°
18:001142440129108.80.1731°
19:001192238112119.30.1731°
20:00117213610112110.1631°
21:0010820359312120.1630°
22:009519358713130.1630°
23:007819358313140.1729°
Tomorrow
00:007419358013150.1729°
01:007419357813150.1728°
02:007420357513130.1728°
03:007420357213120.1627°
04:007420356913110.1627°
05:007420356514120.1627°
06:007420346016140.1726°
07:007520346017150.1727°
08:007421346716150.1729°
09:007421387914140.1730°
10:007422399012130.1731°
11:007425419911120.1731°
12:0074284210710120.1732°
13:007428441159.5110.1731°
14:007329431238.79.60.1732°
15:007328431308.08.60.1632°
16:007226411327.77.90.1631°
17:007224391268.27.60.1631°
18:007222361169.17.70.1630°
19:00712034106108.10.1630°
20:0071183298119.00.1630°
21:007117309012100.1630°
22:007117298312110.1630°
23:007117307913120.1629°

Today at a glance

Cleanest air
02:00–16:00
around AQI 76
Worst stretch
17:00–22:00
peaks at AQI 119
Tomorrow
Drops back under 100, peak 75
peak at 07:00

The week, hour by hour

Tomorrow drops back below 100, peaking at AQI 75 (moderate) around 07:00. The 5-day outlook reads Saturday (unhealthy for sensitive groups), Sunday (moderate), Monday (moderate), Tuesday (unhealthy for sensitive groups), and Wednesday (unhealthy for sensitive groups) — Wednesday looks the worst.

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 119 at 19:00
Mainly clear34° / 27°
SunOct 18
Peak 75 at 07:00
Mainly clear32° / 26°
MonOct 19
Peak 76 at 22:00
Mainly clear33° / 26°
TueOct 20
Peak 101 at 21:00
Partly cloudy32° / 26°
WedOct 21
Peak 136 at 20:00
Mainly clear32° / 26°

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+
O₃ozone · sets the index now
108
PM₂.₅fine particles
75
PM₁₀coarse particles
35
SO₂sulfur dioxide
7
NO₂nitrogen dioxide
6
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: Ibri · Rustaq · Seeb · Bawshar · Sohar

About Muscat

CountryOman, Muscat
TimezoneAsia/Muscat (UTC+4)
Coordinates23.58° N, 58.41° E
Population≈ 797K

Air quality in Muscat — common questions

What is the air quality in Muscat right now?

The current air quality index (AQI) in Muscat is 108 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Today's forecast peak is AQI 119 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) at 19:00 local time, and tomorrow's forecast peak is AQI 75. These values come from the CAMS forecast model, not from a local monitoring station.

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

Today's forecast puts the highest AQI in Muscat at 19:00 in the evening, reaching 119. The largest contributor right now is O₃. 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 Muscat tomorrow?

Tomorrow's forecast peak for Muscat is AQI 75 (Moderate) around 07:00 local time, lower than today's peak of 119. 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 Muscat today?

The air quality index in Muscat is set by O₃ right now. The modelled level this hour is 93 µg/m³, within the World Health Organization's 2021 guideline of 100 µg/m³. The others follow: PM₂.₅ (AQI 75), PM₁₀ (AQI 35), SO₂ (AQI 7), NO₂ (AQI 6), and CO (AQI 2).
Pollutant levels in Muscat at the current hour
PollutantSub-indexLevelWHO 2021Vs guideline
O₃10893 µg/m³100 µg/m³ (8h)0.9×
PM₂.₅7520 µg/m³15 µg/m³ (24h)1.3×
PM₁₀3535 µg/m³45 µg/m³ (24h)0.8×
SO₂712 µg/m³40 µg/m³ (24h)0.3×
NO₂612 µg/m³25 µg/m³ (24h)0.5×
CO20.16 mg/m³4 mg/m³ (24h)0.04×
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 Muscat this week?

Over the 5-day forecast, daily peak AQI in Muscat rises from 119 to 136. These are peak values: each day still has cleaner and dirtier hours, which the chart above shows.

How is air quality forecast for Muscat, Muscat, Oman?

Air quality for Muscat 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. Muscat lies at 23.6° 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.