Worst air pollution Maclear, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Maclear is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 35.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Maclear is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 16.4/100). 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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Maclear lies roughly 410 km northeast of Gqeberha. Vehicle traffic and mixed farming and light industrial activity contribute most of the local emissions at Maclear, set within the Eastern Cape's transitional climate zone. Reasonably steady rainfall through the year generally keeps dispersal conditions favourable, with only brief exceptions on still mornings. Much of the surrounding district sees broadly the same seasonal pattern.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Fair

35.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

22.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

3.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

35.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

7.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

29.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Good

16.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

2.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

0.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

16.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

2.6/100

Pollen forecast in Maclear

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Maclear right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Maclear is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 35.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Maclear?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Maclear will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.4/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 16.4/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Maclear?

Air quality at Maclear tends to be slightly worse during the drier winter months, when reduced rainfall allows dust and emissions from mixed farming and light industrial activity to persist longer than usual. From spring onward, increasing rainfall generally brings clearer, more consistent conditions through summer, a seasonal pattern typical of this Eastern Cape climate zone.

Are air quality levels in Maclear 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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