Worst air pollution Butterworth, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Butterworth is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, O3, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (PM2.5: 23.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Butterworth is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 17.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Butterworth lies roughly 300 km northeast of Gqeberha. At Butterworth, vehicle traffic and mixed farming and light industrial activity are the main local sources of emissions in this transitional Eastern Cape climate zone. Moderate rainfall through most of the year generally supports reasonable dispersal, with only occasional still mornings allowing pollution to briefly build up. Similar patterns show up in most nearby Eastern Cape towns.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 03:00
AQI:
Fair
23.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
23.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
21.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Good
17.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
17.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
17.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.7/100
Pollen forecast in Butterworth
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Butterworth right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Butterworth is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 23.6/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (PM2.5: 23.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Butterworth?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Butterworth will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.6/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 17.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Butterworth?
Butterworth's poorest air quality usually comes in the drier winter season, when lower rainfall allows emissions from mixed farming and light industrial activity to build up more than usual. From spring, increasing rain generally helps clear the air through the remainder of the year, a seasonal pattern typical of this Eastern Cape climate zone.
Are air quality levels in Butterworth 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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