Catalonia launches preventive air-quality warning amid high PM10 levels
On 8 July 2026 the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition activated a region‑wide preventive air‑quality warning for Catalonia after daily PM10 averages exceeded 50 µg/m³ at ten monitoring stations. The morning of 9 July saw six locations—Juneda, Manlleu, Mollet del Vallès (AP‑7 PK 139), Montcada i Reixac, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda and Vilafranca del Penedès—record values above the threshold, a situation worsened by recent wildfire smoke. The warning urges display of alerts on major road panels, prioritisation of public transport over private vehicles, and notification of industrial sites and construction works to implement emission‑reduction protocols. Municipalities are advised to suspend or limit dusty activities, and residents are encouraged to limit indoor heating and use sustainable mobility.
In addition to particulate matter, tropospheric ozone concentrations have risen, with 15 exceedances of the 180 µg/m³ hourly limit recorded recently and forecasts indicating continued high levels across several air‑quality zones. The public can track real‑time air‑quality data via the free AireCat mobile app.