Worst air pollution Nelson Mandela Capture Site - Howick, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Nelson Mandela Capture Site is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are moderate; PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, and HCHO are fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 50.9/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Nelson Mandela Capture Site is poor. AQI worsens to poor; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM1: 60.7/100). 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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Nelson Mandela Capture Site lies roughly 80 km west-northwest of Durban. At Nelson Mandela Capture Site, vehicle traffic and dairy and forestry farming operations are the dominant local emission sources in this cooler, elevated Midlands setting. Winter mornings can see brief temperature inversions concentrate pollution, while the wetter, windier summer months generally restore clearer air. Similar patterns show up in most nearby Midlands towns.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Moderate
50.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
45.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
27.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
24.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.2/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
25.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
50.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 18:00
AQI:
Poor
60.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
52.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
37.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
31.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
18.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
24.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
60.7/100
Other Landmarks in Howick
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Nelson Mandela Capture Site right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Nelson Mandela Capture Site is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 50.9/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 50.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Nelson Mandela Capture Site?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Nelson Mandela Capture Site will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 60.7/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM1: 60.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Nelson Mandela Capture Site?
Nelson Mandela Capture Site's poorest air quality usually comes on dry winter mornings, when temperature inversions briefly concentrate emissions from dairy and forestry farming operations nearby. Conditions generally improve from spring onward as the wetter, windier summer months return to the Midlands region, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Midlands region.
Are air quality levels in Nelson Mandela Capture Site 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 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.
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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