Worst air pollution Port Harcourt, today and tomorrow

Today (23 August): Air quality in Port Harcourt is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are moderate; O3 and HCHO are fair; PM10, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 44.7/100).
Tomorrow (24 August 2026): Air quality in Port Harcourt is moderate. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 44.9/100). 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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Port Harcourt's air quality reflects the flat Nigerian Niger Delta coastal position on the Bonny River, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the oil refinery, gas flaring, and vehicle density corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂. The extraordinary Niger Delta's pervasive oil and gas infrastructure creates distinctive petroleum-related emissions, while the tropical wet season's convective rain provides periodic cleansing and Port Harcourt maintains Nigeria's most distinctively petroleum industrial coastal air quality environment throughout the year.

Today - 23 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Moderate

44.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

41.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

13.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

41.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

22.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

14.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

26.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

44.7/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 24 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Moderate

44.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

41.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

13.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

42.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

28.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

13.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

27.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

44.9/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Port Harcourt right now?

On 23 August 2026, overall air quality in Port Harcourt is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 44.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 44.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Port Harcourt?

On 24 August 2026, air quality conditions in Port Harcourt will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 44.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 44.9/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Port Harcourt?

In Port Harcourt, road traffic, heavy industry such as steel, cement, or petrochemical processing, together with shipbuilding and port operations are the main local sources, with conditions worsening when dry, windy weather picks up. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Onshore breezes usually help clear the air, but pollution can build up when winds are light.

Are air quality levels in Port Harcourt 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: 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.

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