Worst air pollution Paarl, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Paarl is fair. PM2.5, O3, and HCHO are fair; AQI and PM1 are medium; PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 41.5/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Paarl is fair. PM2.5 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 44.2/100). 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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Paarl's air quality reflects its position in the Berg River valley in the Cape Winelands, with vehicle traffic on the N1 highway and dust from surrounding vineyard operations contributing the primary local sources. The surrounding Drakenstein Mountains create topographic enclosure that can concentrate vehicle and agricultural emissions under calm conditions, while the Cape Doctor southeasterly wind provides powerful periodic ventilation from False Bay across the Cape Peninsula and into the winelands valleys.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Medium
41.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
36.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
32.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
41.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
44.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
41.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
29.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
44.2/100
Pollen forecast in Paarl
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Paarl right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Paarl is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 36.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 41.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Paarl?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Paarl will be similar to today, with HCHO forecast at fair at 29.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 44.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Paarl?
At Paarl, occasional poor air quality tends to occur on calm winter days from June to August, when the Cape's usual wind drops off and local emissions can build up overnight around the town. Through spring and summer, the reliable southeasterly wind returns and generally keeps particulate levels low and well dispersed across the wider region.
Are air quality levels in Paarl 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