Worst air pollution Mthatha, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Mthatha is medium. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10, O3, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (NO2: 56.4/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Mthatha is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; SO2 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 30.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Mthatha's air quality reflects the Eastern Cape highland position in the former Transkei, with vehicle traffic on the N2 and surrounding mixed urban and rural character contributing local sources. Residential biomass burning for cooking and heating from surrounding communities generates elevated PM2.5, while the surrounding Eastern Cape midlands hills create topographic variation and the Indian Ocean coastal influence provides periodic eastern ventilation on most days.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Medium
56.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
46.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
19.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
56.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
51.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
50.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
30.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
23.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
30.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.7/100
Pollen forecast in Mthatha
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mthatha right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Mthatha is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 56.4/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (NO2: 56.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mthatha?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Mthatha will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 30.5/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 30.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Mthatha?
At Mthatha, the driest winter months usually bring the year's poorest air quality, as lower rainfall lets dust and vehicle emissions linger longer than they would in wetter periods elsewhere. Conditions typically improve from spring through summer as rainfall increases and helps wash pollutants out of the local atmosphere across the wider area.
Are air quality levels in Mthatha 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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