Worst air pollution Pinetown, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Pinetown is fair. O3 and HCHO are fair; AQI, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 45.5/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Pinetown is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; HCHO decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 16.1/100). 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Medium
45.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
42.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
14.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
40.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
44.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
31.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
45.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Good
16.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
7.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
11.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.7/100
Pollen forecast in Pinetown
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pinetown right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Pinetown is fair. HCHO is the main pollutant at 31.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 45.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pinetown?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Pinetown will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (O3: 16.1/100).
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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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