Worst air pollution Pinetown, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI and PM1 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and HCHO are moderate; O3 is fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 74.1/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Pinetown's air quality reflects its position in the upper Umbilo River valley in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands above Durban, with vehicle traffic on the N3 national road and the surrounding manufacturing and logistics corridor of the Pinetown industrial zone contributing elevated PM2.5 and NOₓ. The Berea ridge creates topographic variation between the valley floor and the elevated urban areas, while Indian Ocean sea breezes from Durban Bay generally provide afternoon ventilation, and the N3 freight corridor generates consistent diesel PM2.5 throughout the year.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Poor
74.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
54.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
43.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
56.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
57.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
74.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Poor
69.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
51.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
40.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
50.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
43.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
3.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
55.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
69.1/100
Pollen forecast in Pinetown
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pinetown right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 74.1/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 74.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pinetown?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Pinetown will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 69.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 69.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pinetown?
Air quality at Pinetown is generally stable year-round thanks to consistent Indian Ocean sea breezes, though hot, still, humid days in mid-summer can occasionally allow haze and local emissions to build up before the breeze returns. Winter months typically see the most reliable ventilation and the clearest conditions overall across the coastal area.
Are air quality levels in Pinetown 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.
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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