Worst air pollution Lilongwe, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Lilongwe is fair. AQI, O3, and HCHO are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 28.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Lilongwe is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 24.7/100). 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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Lilongwe's air quality reflects the flat Malawi plateau at 1,050 metres in the Lake Malawi watershed, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the government, vehicle density, and charcoal burning corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and black carbon. The elevated plateau position aids dispersal on most days, while the dry season's agricultural burning from surrounding Malawi woodland contributes elevated PM2.5 and Lilongwe generally maintains moderate to elevated Sub-Saharan African plateau capital readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
28.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
25.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
24.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
24.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.7/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Lilongwe right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Lilongwe is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.6/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 28.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Lilongwe?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Lilongwe will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 24.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Lilongwe?
Air quality in Lilongwe tends to be worse when road traffic, agricultural activity, along with charcoal and wood-burning build up and the colder winter months arrive. Fuel burned for winter heating adds an extra layer of particulates on top of other sources. This effect eases considerably during the warmer months.
Are air quality levels in Lilongwe 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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