Pinetown Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (11 October): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI and PM1 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and HCHO are moderate; O3 and SO2 are fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 72.5/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (12 October 2026): Air quality in Pinetown is poor. PM10 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 66.1/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 72.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 54.0/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 41.8/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Moderate | 43.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 28.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 37.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 2.7/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Moderate | 53.5/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 72.5/100 |
Tomorrow - 12 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 66.1/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 50.0/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 37.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Moderate | 40.3/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 30.5/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 28.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 2.2/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Moderate | 42.9/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 66.1/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around the center of Pinetown, dense development means road traffic is the main local source of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. Its setting in a valley means cold air and pollution can get trapped close to the ground during calm spells. Sea breezes along the coast usually help ventilate the area. Local sources include freight transport and manufacturing.
Summer sun from December to March cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 22°C. In contrast, even in the mild winter months, June to August, at around 13°C, calm nights let traffic pollution settle in the valley. Overall, stronger winds around October, about 15 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in KwaZulu-Natal
Is air quality bad in Pinetown right now?
On 11 October 2026, overall air quality in Pinetown is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 72.5/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 72.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pinetown?
On 12 October 2026, air quality conditions in Pinetown will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 66.1/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 66.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pinetown?
Summer sun from December to March cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 22°C. In contrast, even in the mild winter months, June to August, at around 13°C, calm nights let traffic pollution settle in the valley. Overall, stronger winds around October, about 15 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
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.
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. |