Worst air pollution Blantyre, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Blantyre is fair. PM2.5, NO2, O3, and HCHO are fair; AQI and PM1 are medium; PM10, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 40.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Blantyre is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 41.1/100). 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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Blantyre's air quality reflects the flat Malawi plateau's Mudi River valley at 1,039 metres, with vehicle density, charcoal burning, and informal industrial corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and black carbon. The elevated plateau position aids dispersal on most days, while dry season agricultural burning from surrounding Malawi woodland contributes PM2.5 and Blantyre generally maintains moderate to elevated Sub-Saharan African commercial capital readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
40.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
34.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
26.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
29.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
40.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
41.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
36.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
33.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
25.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
30.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
41.1/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Blantyre right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Blantyre is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 34.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 40.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Blantyre?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Blantyre will be similar to today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 36.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 41.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Blantyre?
Blantyre usually sees its poorest air quality when traffic emissions, crop farming, along with charcoal and wood-burning coincide with periods when windblown dust events occur. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher. Coal and wood used for winter heating add substantially to particulate levels.
Are air quality levels in Blantyre 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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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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