Worst air pollution Chatsworth - Durban, today and tomorrow

Today (20 September): Air quality in Chatsworth is poor. AQI and PM1 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and HCHO are moderate; O3 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 74.0/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Chatsworth is poor. NO2 decreases to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.0/100). 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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Chatsworth lies roughly 20 km west-southwest of Durban. Chatsworth's coastal KwaZulu-Natal position means vehicle traffic and port and industrial operations are the dominant local pollution sources, generally offset by consistent onshore sea breezes. Only during unusually still, humid spells does pollution build up noticeably before dispersing again. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the coast.

Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Poor

74.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

58.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Moderate

43.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

40.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

16.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Moderate

45.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

3.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

57.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

74.0/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Poor

69.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

55.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Moderate

40.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

34.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Moderate

43.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

3.1/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

55.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

69.0/100

Other Landmarks in Durban

Sports venues in Durban

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Chatsworth right now?

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Chatsworth is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 74.0/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 74.0/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Chatsworth?

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Chatsworth will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 69.0/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Chatsworth?

The occasional still, humid summer day is when air quality dips most at Chatsworth, as emissions from port and industrial operations briefly build up without the usual sea breeze. Winter typically brings the most consistent ventilation and the clearest air quality of the year, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader KwaZulu-Natal coast.

Are air quality levels in Chatsworth 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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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