Worst air pollution Retreat - Cape Town, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Retreat is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.0/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Retreat is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 17.9/100). 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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Retreat lies roughly 10 km south-southeast of Cape Town. Vehicle traffic and the city bowl, harbour, and southern suburbs are the constant background sources of local pollution at Retreat, but the Cape's wind pattern does most of the actual air quality work. Only when that wind drops, mainly on winter mornings, does pollution get a chance to accumulate. The wider Cape region generally follows this same rough pattern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
17.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Good
17.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.2/100
Other Landmarks in Cape Town
Sports venues in Cape Town
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Retreat right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Retreat is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 17.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Retreat?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Retreat will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.9/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 17.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Retreat?
At Retreat, poor air quality is really a winter-calm-day phenomenon, tied to brief lulls in the Cape's wind that let emissions from the city bowl, harbour, and southern suburbs build up. Spring and summer see the southeaster return in force, restoring the region's usually excellent ventilation. This is a familiar pattern across much of the Cape.
Are air quality levels in Retreat 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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