Worst air pollution Merebank - Durban, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Merebank is fair. AQI, PM10, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5, NO2, O3, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 36.9/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Merebank is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; PM2.5 increases to moderate; PM10 increases to moderate; O3 increases to fair; SO2 increases to fair; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM1: 55.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Merebank lies roughly 10 km south of Durban. Air quality at Merebank benefits from its position along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, where onshore sea breezes provide fairly consistent natural ventilation through the year. Vehicle traffic and port and industrial operations remain the main emission sources, generally kept moderate by the steady coastal wind. This mirrors what's typical for towns along this stretch of coast.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
36.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
19.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
22.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
12.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.7/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
36.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Moderate
55.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
40.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
40.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
20.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
29.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
55.9/100
Other Landmarks in Durban
Sports venues in Durban
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Merebank right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Merebank is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 36.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Merebank?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Merebank will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 55.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM1: 55.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Merebank?
Hot, still summer days are the main exception to otherwise steady air quality at Merebank, when haze and emissions from port and industrial operations briefly build up before the sea breeze clears them. Winter typically brings the year's most reliable ventilation and clearest conditions, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Are air quality levels in Merebank 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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