Worst air pollution Molteno, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Molteno is fair. AQI, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 35.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Molteno is good. AQI improves to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 16.7/100). 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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Molteno lies roughly 290 km north-northeast of Gqeberha. At Molteno, vehicle traffic and sheep and ostrich farming operations contribute the bulk of local emissions in this remote Karoo setting, where wide open spaces and regular winds generally keep pollution well dispersed. Only rare calm, dry spells allow dust to build up noticeably. Similar patterns show up in most Karoo towns of a similar size.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00

AQI:

Fair

35.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

19.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

6.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

35.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

33.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

25.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00

AQI:

Good

16.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

1.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

0.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

4.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

16.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

1.3/100

Pollen forecast in Molteno

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Molteno right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Molteno is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 35.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 35.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Molteno?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Molteno will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 16.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Molteno?

Molteno rarely sees poor air quality, aside from occasional dust events during dry, windy spells in late winter and spring linked to sheep and ostrich farming operations nearby. Outside these episodes, the wide open Karoo landscape keeps particulate levels low across the rest of the year, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Karoo interior.

Are air quality levels in Molteno 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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