Worst air pollution Kokstad, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Kokstad is moderate. AQI and PM1 are moderate; PM2.5, NO2, O3, and SO2 are fair; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM1: 41.5/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Kokstad is moderate. SO2 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 40.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Kokstad's air quality reflects the KwaZulu-Natal southern Midlands Drakensberg foothills at 1,292 metres, with vehicle traffic on the N2 and surrounding agricultural and residential operations contributing local sources in this major Griqua heritage market town. The elevated Drakensberg position aids background dispersal on most days, while winter Highveld-influenced temperature inversions can concentrate emissions and the surrounding eastern Cape Midlands hills create topographic variation throughout the year.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Moderate
41.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
39.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
23.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
22.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
41.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
40.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
33.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
27.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
40.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
40.1/100
Pollen forecast in Kokstad
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Kokstad right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Kokstad is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.5/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM1: 41.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kokstad?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Kokstad will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 40.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 40.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Kokstad?
At Kokstad, winter mornings from May to August tend to bring the poorest air quality, as the cooler, drier Midlands climate favours brief temperature inversions that trap local emissions near the surface. From spring through summer, rainfall and stronger winds typically restore clearer, more consistent conditions across the area for the rest of the year.
Are air quality levels in Kokstad 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: 30 August 2026 at 20:26 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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