Worst air pollution Newcastle, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Newcastle is very poor. AQI, NO2, and SO2 are very poor; PM2.5, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (SO2: 94.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Newcastle is poor. AQI improves to poor; NO2 decreases to poor; SO2 decreases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 67.4/100). 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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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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Very poor
94.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
88.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
94.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
32.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Poor
67.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
32.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
67.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
65.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
39.8/100
Pollen forecast in Newcastle
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Newcastle right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Newcastle is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 94.1/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (SO2: 94.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Newcastle?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Newcastle will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 67.4/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 67.4/100).
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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app