Worst air pollution Matatiele, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Matatiele is fair. PM1 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 48.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Matatiele is good. AQI improves to good; O3 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 16.8/100). 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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Matatiele lies roughly 500 km northeast of Gqeberha. Matatiele's air quality reflects its Eastern Cape setting, with vehicle traffic and mixed farming and light industrial activity contributing modest local sources of pollution. The transitional climate between the Cape's winter rains and the summer-rainfall interior generally supports reasonable dispersal, aside from occasional still mornings. Conditions like these are common across this part of the Eastern Cape.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00

AQI:

Medium

48.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

16.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

48.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

22.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Good

16.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

1.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

0.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

16.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

2.3/100

Pollen forecast in Matatiele

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Matatiele right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Matatiele is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 22.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 48.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Matatiele?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Matatiele will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.8/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 16.8/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Matatiele?

At Matatiele, the driest winter months usually bring the year's poorest air quality, as lower rainfall lets dust and emissions from mixed farming and light industrial activity linger longer than in wetter periods. Conditions typically improve from spring through summer as rainfall increases and clears the air, a seasonal pattern typical of this Eastern Cape climate zone.

Are air quality levels in Matatiele 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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