Worst air pollution Ladysmith, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Ladysmith is fair. PM2.5, NO2, O3, and PM1 are fair; AQI and SO2 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 41.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Ladysmith is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; SO2 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 31.1/100). 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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Ladysmith's air quality reflects the KwaZulu-Natal Highveld position at 1,072 metres, with vehicle traffic on the N11 and the legacy of Platplass Heavy Engineering and surrounding industrial and agricultural operations contributing local sources. The surrounding Drakensberg foothills create topographic variation, while winter temperature inversions can concentrate vehicle and heating emissions and the elevated highland position aids background dispersal on the frequent windy days throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Medium
41.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
35.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
41.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
31.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
31.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
19.8/100
Pollen forecast in Ladysmith
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ladysmith right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Ladysmith is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 35.3/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 41.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ladysmith?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Ladysmith will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.1/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 31.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ladysmith?
Air quality at Ladysmith is most likely to dip during the dry winter months, when cool, still mornings allow temperature inversions to briefly trap local emissions close to the ground across the Midlands. Conditions generally improve from spring onward as summer rains and stronger winds return to clear the air throughout the wider region.
Are air quality levels in Ladysmith 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