Worst air pollution Queenstown, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Queenstown is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 31.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Queenstown is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 16.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Queenstown's air quality in the Eastern Cape reflects the Komani river valley at 1,088 metres in the Amathole highland plateau, with vehicle traffic on the N9 and surrounding agricultural and residential operations contributing local sources. Winter Highveld-influenced temperature inversions can concentrate vehicle and biomass burning emissions across the plateau, while the elevated Eastern Cape highland position generally aids background dispersal and the surrounding Amathole mountains create topographic variation.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Fair
31.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
22.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
31.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
28.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
16.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
1.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
0.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
1.2/100
Pollen forecast in Queenstown
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Queenstown right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Queenstown is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.6/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 31.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Queenstown?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Queenstown will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.7/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 16.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Queenstown?
At Queenstown, the driest winter months usually bring the year's poorest air quality, as lower rainfall lets dust and vehicle emissions linger longer than they would in wetter periods elsewhere. Conditions typically improve from spring through summer as rainfall increases and helps wash pollutants out of the local atmosphere across the wider area.
Are air quality levels in Queenstown 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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