Worst air pollution Ezakheni - Ladysmith, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Ezakheni is fair. PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 52.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Ezakheni is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (PM1: 27.8/100). 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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Ezakheni lies roughly 190 km northwest of Durban. Ezakheni's inland Midlands position means vehicle traffic and dairy and forestry farming operations drive most local emissions, occasionally trapped by winter morning inversions typical of this cooler, elevated climate. Summer rains and stronger winds usually bring clearer conditions back to the district. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the Midlands.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Medium
52.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
11.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
52.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
31.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
27.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
27.8/100
Other Landmarks in Ladysmith
Sports venues in Ladysmith
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ezakheni right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Ezakheni is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 31.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 52.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ezakheni?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Ezakheni will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.8/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (PM1: 27.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ezakheni?
Winter's cool, calm mornings are when air quality dips most at Ezakheni, trapping emissions from dairy and forestry farming operations under a brief temperature inversion. From spring through summer, increasing rainfall and wind generally keep conditions clearer across the district, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Midlands region.
Are air quality levels in Ezakheni 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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