Worst air pollution Sudwala Caves - Nelspruit, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Sudwala Caves is medium. AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 41.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Sudwala Caves is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 27.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Sudwala Caves lies roughly 30 km west-northwest of Nelspruit. Vehicle traffic and sugarcane, timber, and tourism operations shape most of the local air quality picture at Sudwala Caves, set within the surrounding bushveld. Winter's dry, still conditions can let dust and smoke linger, while summer thunderstorms and stronger winds generally restore clearer conditions across the district. Much of the surrounding bushveld sees broadly the same seasonal pattern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Medium
41.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
41.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
27.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.2/100
Other Landmarks in Nelspruit
Sports venues in Nelspruit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sudwala Caves right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Sudwala Caves is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 41.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sudwala Caves?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Sudwala Caves will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 27.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sudwala Caves?
Air quality at Sudwala Caves is most likely to dip during the dry winter months, when dust and smoke from sugarcane, timber, and tourism operations can build up on still, windless days. Conditions generally improve from November onward as summer rains settle dust and wash pollutants from the bushveld air, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader bushveld region.
Are air quality levels in Sudwala Caves 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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