Worst air pollution Port Edward, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Port Edward is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 20.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Port Edward is good. AQI improves to good; O3 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (O3: 18.3/100). 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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Port Edward lies roughly 150 km south-southwest of Durban. At Port Edward, the sea breeze typically provides reliable ventilation despite vehicle traffic and sugarcane farming and tourism operations 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 19:00

AQI:

Fair

20.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

1.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

10.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 03:00

AQI:

Good

18.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

7.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

3.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

1.7/100

Pollen forecast in Port Edward

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Port Edward right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Port Edward is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 20.7/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (O3: 20.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Port Edward?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Port Edward will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 AM (O3: 18.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Port Edward?

Port Edward sees fairly stable air quality year-round, with the main dip coming on windless, humid summer days when emissions from sugarcane farming and tourism operations 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 Port Edward 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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