Residents in Portsmouth, Hampshire, are being warned of a significant rise in air pollution, with levels expected to reach a Very High rating by the end of the week. According to the Met Office, pollution is set to be High on Thursday, 5 March 2026, before rising to the highest possible level on Friday, 6 March 2026.
The forecast shows that pollution will hit Index 10, the Very High mark, on Friday. This spike is being caused by sunny weather and light winds of between five and eight miles per hour coming from the east and north-east, which stop local fumes from blowing away.
Health advice from Defra says that when pollution is this high, people with lung or heart conditions should avoid all outdoor activity. Other residents are advised to do less exercise outside, especially if they start to notice a cough or a sore throat.
People with asthma are specifically warned that they might find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often than usual during this period. Schools and parents are also being encouraged to keep an eye on air quality updates before planning outdoor activities for children.
This warning comes as Portsmouth City Council continues to manage the city’s air quality through a Clean Air Zone. While the zone was set up to lower nitrogen dioxide levels, it is expected to stay in place until at least 2027 because some parts of the city still have pollution levels above government limits.
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