Worst air pollution Lubumbashi, today and tomorrow
Today (17 August): Air quality in Lubumbashi is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (PM1: 39.8/100).
Tomorrow (18 August 2026): Air quality in Lubumbashi is fair. SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 39.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Lubumbashi's air quality reflects the flat Katanga Plateau's copper mining position at 1,267 metres in the Congo-Zambia mineral corridor, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary copper smelting, cobalt mining, and industrial corridor generating elevated heavy metal PM2.5 and SO₂. The elevated plateau position aids dispersal on most days, while the smelting operations' distinctive heavy metal particulate makes Lubumbashi Africa's most distinctively copper and cobalt mining-defined urban air quality environment throughout the year.
Today - 17 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Fair
39.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
32.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
18.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
17.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
39.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 18 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Fair
39.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
39.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
30.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
15.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
31.8/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Lubumbashi right now?
On 17 August 2026, overall air quality in Lubumbashi is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (PM1: 39.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Lubumbashi?
On 18 August 2026, air quality conditions in Lubumbashi will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.1/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 39.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Lubumbashi?
Lubumbashi usually sees its poorest air quality when traffic on the surrounding roads as well as mining operations coincide with periods when dry, windy weather picks up. Dust carried on these winds adds substantially to particulate levels. This is most noticeable during spring and autumn wind events.
Are air quality levels in Lubumbashi 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: 17 August 2026 at 20:32 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.
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