Worst air pollution Umbilo - Durban, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Umbilo 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: 69.3/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Umbilo is poor. NO2 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 64.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
At Umbilo, the sea breeze typically provides reliable ventilation despite vehicle traffic and port and industrial operations contributing steady local emissions. The area's warm, humid subtropical climate rarely allows pollution to concentrate for long before the onshore wind clears it. Similar patterns show up in most nearby coastal KwaZulu-Natal towns.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Poor
69.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
53.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
43.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
42.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
57.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
69.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Poor
64.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
50.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
40.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
39.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
20.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
43.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
55.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
64.9/100
Other Landmarks in Durban
Sports venues in Durban
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Umbilo right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Umbilo is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 69.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 69.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Umbilo?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Umbilo will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 64.9/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 64.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Umbilo?
Umbilo sees fairly stable air quality year-round, with the main dip coming on windless, humid summer days when emissions from port and industrial operations linger close to the ground. Winter's steadier onshore breeze generally keeps conditions clearer through the cooler months, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Are air quality levels in Umbilo 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.