Worst air pollution Onitsha, today and tomorrow
Today (23 August): Air quality in Onitsha is fair. AQI, PM2.5, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 34.6/100).
Tomorrow (24 August 2026): Air quality in Onitsha is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; O3 increases to fair; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 41.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Onitsha's air quality reflects the flat southeastern Nigeria Niger River port position at 53 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary market density — Onitsha hosting Africa's largest open-air market — vehicle density, and informal industrial corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and black carbon. The tropical wet season's convective rain provides periodic cleansing, while dry season Harmattan dust and the extraordinary market traffic maintain Onitsha among Nigeria's most distinctively commerce-influenced urban environments.
Today - 23 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
34.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
27.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
28.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
34.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 24 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Moderate
41.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
36.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
30.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
41.7/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Onitsha right now?
On 23 August 2026, overall air quality in Onitsha is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.6/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 34.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Onitsha?
On 24 August 2026, air quality conditions in Onitsha will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 41.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 41.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Onitsha?
Onitsha usually sees its poorest air quality when road traffic together with fishing fleet activity coincide with periods when dry, windy weather picks up. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. This is most noticeable during spring and autumn wind events.
Are air quality levels in Onitsha 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.
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 24 August 2026 at 02:28 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.