Worst air pollution Shymkent, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Shymkent is medium. AQI, NO2, O3, and SO2 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 56.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Shymkent is poor. AQI worsens to poor; O3 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 62.9/100). 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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Shymkent's air quality reflects the flat southern Kazakhstan Syr Darya River valley's semi-arid position at 600 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the oil refining, lead smelting, and agricultural corridor generating elevated industrial SO₂ and heavy metal PM2.5. Central Asian continental dust from the Kyzylkum Desert contributes elevated PM10, while winter residential heating generates elevated PM2.5 and the lead smelting operations represent Shymkent's most distinctive industrial air quality contribution throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Medium
56.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
51.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
56.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
17.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Poor
62.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
62.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
57.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Shymkent right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Shymkent is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 56.4/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 56.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Shymkent?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Shymkent will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 62.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 62.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Shymkent?
In Shymkent, road traffic, petrochemical and refining operations, as well as agricultural activity are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when dry, windy weather picks up. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Coal and wood used for winter heating add substantially to particulate levels.
Are air quality levels in Shymkent 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app