Klein Drakenstein, Paarl Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (11 October): Air quality in Klein Drakenstein is poor. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are poor; PM10 is moderate; NO2, O3, SO2, and HCHO are fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.3/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (12 October 2026): Air quality in Klein Drakenstein is poor. NO2 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 66.5/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 69.3/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Poor | 67.6/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 44.2/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 28.1/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 33.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 34.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 2.1/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Fair | 35.5/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 69.3/100 |
Tomorrow - 12 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 66.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Poor | 65.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 42.0/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 10.5/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 15.0/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 23.0/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 1.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Fair | 24.1/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 66.5/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
This part of Paarl lies in a lightly developed area, where local traffic adds relatively little to air pollution. Open grassland and scrub can produce smoke during grass fires and some dust in dry spells. On some days, pollution drifting in from farther away outweighs local sources. Exhaust from nearby roads is usually highest close to busy streets and junctions.
Ozone is the main concern from December to March, when sunny days averaging 24°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. In contrast, cooler, still evenings from June to August, averaging about 11°C, tend to hold exhaust close to busy streets. The risk of wildfire smoke peaks from October to February, when dry vegetation burns easily.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Western Cape
Is air quality bad in Klein Drakenstein right now?
On 11 October 2026, overall air quality in Klein Drakenstein is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 69.3/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Klein Drakenstein?
On 12 October 2026, air quality conditions in Klein Drakenstein will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 66.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 66.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Klein Drakenstein?
Ozone is the main concern from December to March, when sunny days averaging 24°C turn traffic and other emissions into ozone by mid-afternoon. In contrast, cooler, still evenings from June to August, averaging about 11°C, tend to hold exhaust close to busy streets. The risk of wildfire smoke peaks from October to February, when dry vegetation burns easily.
Are air quality levels in Klein Drakenstein 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |