Worst air pollution Kota Kinabalu, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Kota Kinabalu is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 36.5/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Kota Kinabalu is medium. AQI improves to medium; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 56.3/100). 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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Kota Kinabalu's air quality benefits from its exceptional South China Sea and Sulawesi Sea coastal position in Malaysian Sabah, with consistent South China Sea and southwest monsoon maritime breezes providing reliable tropical ventilation. Vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the tourism, fishing, and government corridor contribute modest local sources, while transboundary haze from Indonesian Kalimantan peatland fires represents the primary severe seasonal concern and Kota Kinabalu generally maintains moderate to good Malaysian Sabah coastal readings throughout non-haze periods.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Fair
36.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
18.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Medium
56.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
56.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
15.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.3/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Kota Kinabalu right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Kota Kinabalu is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.5/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 36.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kota Kinabalu?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Kota Kinabalu will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 56.3/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 56.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu usually sees its poorest air quality when traffic emissions, fishing fleet activity, and tourism-related traffic coincide with periods when the drier season sets in. Rainfall through the monsoon usually keeps levels in check. Onshore breezes usually help clear the air, but pollution can build up when winds are light.
Are air quality levels in Kota Kinabalu 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