Worst air pollution Newcastle, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Newcastle is poor. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are poor; PM10 and NO2 are moderate; SO2 and HCHO are fair; O3 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 68.2/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Newcastle is poor. NO2 decreases to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 67.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Newcastle's air quality reflects its position in the KwaZulu-Natal Highveld coal and steel corridor at around 1,200 metres, with the ArcelorMittal steelworks and surrounding coal mining operations generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂ alongside vehicle traffic on the N11. Winter Highveld temperature inversions can concentrate industrial emissions across the plateau, while summer thunderstorms and stronger winds generally aid dispersal.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
68.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
61.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
42.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
58.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
24.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.5/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
68.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Poor
67.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
61.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
41.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
22.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
67.7/100
Pollen forecast in Newcastle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Newcastle right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Newcastle is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 68.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 68.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Newcastle?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Newcastle will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 67.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 67.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Newcastle?
At Newcastle, winter mornings from May to August tend to bring the poorest air quality, as the cooler, drier Midlands climate favours brief temperature inversions that trap local emissions near the surface. From spring through summer, rainfall and stronger winds typically restore clearer, more consistent conditions across the area for the rest of the year.
Are air quality levels in Newcastle 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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