Worst air pollution Gqeberha, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Gqeberha is fair. PM2.5, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; AQI, NO2, and SO2 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 48.6/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Gqeberha is fair. O3 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 53.5/100). 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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Gqeberha's air quality in Nelson Mandela Bay is shaped by industrial emissions from the Coega Special Economic Zone and the Port Elizabeth harbour complex, with prevailing Indian Ocean southwesterly winds providing ventilation along the coast. On calm days and under northerly winds, industrial and vehicle emissions can accumulate across the low-lying metropolitan area.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00

AQI:

Medium

48.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

31.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

9.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

48.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

48.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

28.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

36.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

53.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

38.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

48.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

53.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

35.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

41.7/100

Pollen forecast in Gqeberha

View pollen forecast

Sports venues in Gqeberha

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Gqeberha right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Gqeberha is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 36.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 48.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Gqeberha?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Gqeberha will be similar to today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 38.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 53.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Gqeberha?

At Gqeberha, the driest winter months usually bring the year's poorest air quality, as lower rainfall lets dust and vehicle emissions linger longer than they would in wetter periods elsewhere. Conditions typically improve from spring through summer as rainfall increases and helps wash pollutants out of the local atmosphere across the wider area.

Are air quality levels in Gqeberha 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.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app