Worst air pollution iSimangaliso Wetland Park - Richards Bay, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in iSimangaliso Wetland Park is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 32.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in iSimangaliso Wetland Park is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (O3: 21.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park lies roughly 250 km north-northeast of Durban. Air quality at iSimangaliso Wetland Park benefits from its position along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, where onshore sea breezes provide fairly consistent natural ventilation through the year. Vehicle traffic and port and industrial operations remain the main emission sources, generally kept moderate by the steady coastal wind. This mirrors what's typical for towns along this stretch of coast.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Fair
32.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
11.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 01:00
AQI:
Fair
21.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.7/100
Other Landmarks in Richards Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in iSimangaliso Wetland Park right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in iSimangaliso Wetland Park is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.8/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 32.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in iSimangaliso Wetland Park will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 21.4/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 AM (O3: 21.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in iSimangaliso Wetland Park?
Hot, still summer days are the main exception to otherwise steady air quality at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, when haze and emissions from port and industrial operations briefly build up before the sea breeze clears them. Winter typically brings the year's most reliable ventilation and clearest conditions, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Are air quality levels in iSimangaliso Wetland Park 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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