Worst air pollution Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve - Richards Bay, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is moderate. AQI and PM1 are moderate; PM2.5 is fair; PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (PM1: 41.1/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is moderate. PM2.5 increases to moderate; PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 47.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve lies roughly 210 km north-northeast of Durban. At Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, the sea breeze typically provides reliable ventilation despite vehicle traffic and port and industrial 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 - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 06:00
AQI:
Moderate
41.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
40.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
11.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.9/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
41.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
47.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
45.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
6.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
47.4/100
Other Landmarks in Richards Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.1/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (PM1: 41.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 47.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 47.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve?
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve sees fairly stable air quality year-round, with the main dip coming on windless, humid summer days when emissions from port and industrial 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 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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