Worst air pollution Paarl, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Paarl is fair. AQI and HCHO are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (HCHO: 20.3/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Paarl is fair. O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 26.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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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 - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
20.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
26.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
17.2/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Paarl right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Paarl is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 20.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (HCHO: 20.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Paarl?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Paarl will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 26.4/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 26.4/100).
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.
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: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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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