Worst air pollution Pongola, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Pongola is poor. AQI and SO2 are poor; PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; O3 is medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (SO2: 67.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Pongola is fair. AQI improves to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 25.3/100). 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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Pongola lies roughly 280 km north-northeast of Durban. At Pongola, the sea breeze typically provides reliable ventilation despite vehicle traffic and conservation and tourism activity contributing steady local emissions. The area's warm, humid subtropical climate rarely allows pollution to concentrate for long before the onshore wind clears it. Similar patterns show up in most nearby coastal KwaZulu-Natal towns.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Poor
67.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
26.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
34.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
50.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
67.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
33.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
25.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
12.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
18.1/100
Pollen forecast in Pongola
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pongola right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Pongola is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 67.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (SO2: 67.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pongola?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Pongola will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 25.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 25.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pongola?
Pongola sees fairly stable air quality year-round, with the main dip coming on windless, humid summer days when emissions from conservation and tourism activity linger close to the ground. Winter's steadier onshore breeze generally keeps conditions clearer through the cooler months, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Are air quality levels in Pongola 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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