Worst air pollution Ncandu Nature Reserve - Newcastle, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Ncandu Nature Reserve is fair. PM1 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 51.5/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Ncandu Nature Reserve is good. AQI improves to good; O3 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 17.0/100). 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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Ncandu Nature Reserve lies roughly 250 km north-northwest of Durban. Ncandu Nature Reserve's inland Midlands position means vehicle traffic and dairy and forestry farming operations drive most local emissions, occasionally trapped by winter morning inversions typical of this cooler, elevated climate. Summer rains and stronger winds usually bring clearer conditions back to the district. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the Midlands.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Medium
51.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
51.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 04:00
AQI:
Good
17.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
16.6/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ncandu Nature Reserve right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Ncandu Nature Reserve is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 20.6/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 51.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ncandu Nature Reserve?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Ncandu Nature Reserve will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.0/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (O3: 17.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ncandu Nature Reserve?
Winter's cool, calm mornings are when air quality dips most at Ncandu Nature Reserve, trapping emissions from dairy and forestry farming operations under a brief temperature inversion. From spring through summer, increasing rainfall and wind generally keep conditions clearer across the district, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Midlands region.
Are air quality levels in Ncandu Nature Reserve 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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