Worst air pollution George Town, today and tomorrow

Today (10 August): Air quality in George Town is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5, SO2, and PM1 are fair; NO2 is medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 71.4/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in George Town is poor. PM2.5 decreases to medium; SO2 decreases to medium; PM1 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 70.3/100). 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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George Town's air quality reflects the Penang Island's urban core position on the northern Malacca Strait, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the electronics manufacturing and tourism corridor contributing local sources. The Malacca Strait provides maritime ventilation, while transboundary haze from Indonesian peatland fires represents the primary severe seasonal air quality challenge and George Town's historic UNESCO heritage urban character generally maintains moderate Malaysian coastal metropolitan readings throughout non-haze periods.

Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 17:00

AQI:

Poor

71.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

30.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

45.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

71.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

30.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

12.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

38.0/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 18:00

AQI:

Poor

70.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

41.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

51.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Poor

70.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

41.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

12.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

44.0/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in George Town right now?

On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in George Town is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 71.4/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 71.4/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in George Town?

On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in George Town will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 70.3/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (O3: 70.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in George Town?

Air quality in George Town tends to be worse when vehicle traffic, manufacturing activity, as well as tourism-related traffic build up and the sea breeze weakens. Sea breezes typically keep conditions in check, except during still weather. This coastal advantage is less pronounced during still, high-pressure weather.

Are air quality levels in George Town 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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