Worst air pollution Bela-Bela, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Bela-Bela is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 34.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Bela-Bela is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 27.8/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Bela-Bela lies roughly 160 km southwest of Polokwane. Bela-Bela's bushveld location means vehicle traffic and citrus and subtropical farming operations are the dominant local pollution sources, with dry winter conditions occasionally allowing dust to build up. Summer's stronger winds and regular rainfall typically keep particulate levels lower for much of the warmer half of the year. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the lowveld.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Fair

34.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

7.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

10.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

34.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

9.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.7/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Fair

27.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

6.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

1.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

9.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

27.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

4.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.0/100

Pollen forecast in Bela-Bela

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Sports venues in Bela-Bela

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Bela-Bela right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Bela-Bela is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 34.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Bela-Bela?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Bela-Bela will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 27.8/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Bela-Bela?

Winter's dry, still conditions bring the year's worst air quality to Bela-Bela, as dust and smoke tied to citrus and subtropical farming operations accumulate. Summer rains from November typically wash the air clean again, keeping conditions favourable through the warmer, wetter months that follow, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader bushveld region.

Are air quality levels in Bela-Bela 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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