Worst air pollution Helenvale - Gqeberha, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Helenvale is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 16.1/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Helenvale is fair. AQI worsens to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 increases to fair; SO2 increases to medium; HCHO increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 41.3/100). 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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Air quality at Helenvale is generally shaped by vehicle traffic and mixed farming and light industrial activity typical of the Eastern Cape. The area's moderate, transitional climate between two rainfall regimes usually allows for decent dispersal of local emissions, though calm mornings can occasionally see particulate levels rise. This mirrors what's typical for towns across the wider region.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Good
16.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
12.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
41.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
23.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
30.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
41.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
26.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
28.3/100
Other Landmarks in Gqeberha
Sports venues in Gqeberha
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Helenvale right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Helenvale is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 16.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 16.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Helenvale?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Helenvale will be worse than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 30.5/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 41.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Helenvale?
Dry winter months bring the weakest air quality to Helenvale, as reduced rainfall lets dust tied to mixed farming and light industrial activity persist longer than usual around town. Spring and summer typically bring clearer conditions as rainfall increases across this transitional Eastern Cape climate zone, a seasonal pattern typical of this Eastern Cape climate zone.
Are air quality levels in Helenvale 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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