Worst air pollution Pinetown, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI and SO2 are poor; PM2.5, NO2, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 72.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. O3 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 62.4/100). 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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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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Poor
72.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
45.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
18.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
58.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
72.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
45.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
50.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Poor
62.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
44.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
17.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
55.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
62.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
61.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
43.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
48.4/100
Pollen forecast in Pinetown
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pinetown right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 72.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 72.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pinetown?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Pinetown will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 62.4/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 62.4/100).
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.
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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