Sir Lowry's Pass Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (11 October): Air quality in Sir Lowry's Pass is poor. AQI and PM1 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, and HCHO are moderate; O3 and SO2 are fair; NO2 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 72.3/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (12 October 2026): Air quality in Sir Lowry's Pass is poor. O3 decreases to good; HCHO decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 68.7/100).
Explore Forecasts
Pollen & Mold
Air Quality in Other Cities
Pollen in Other Cities
Get More in Our App
Local pollen and air quality forecasts, interactive pollen maps and route profiles
Features and forecast availability vary by region.
Air Quality
Today - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 72.3/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 52.6/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 42.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 16.6/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Fair | 38.9/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 39.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 2.0/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Moderate | 44.3/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 72.3/100 |
Tomorrow - 12 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 68.7/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 51.7/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Moderate | 41.6/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 14.0/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.9/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 31.1/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 1.7/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Fair | 31.0/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Poor | 68.7/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around Sir Lowry's Pass, traffic is light and there are few concentrated sources of air pollution. The open grass and scrubland around the area can add dust in dry weather and smoke from occasional fires. Trees nearby help filter some particles from the air, though in hot weather they also emit compounds that feed ozone formation. Winds here are fairly strong, averaging around 15 km/h, which helps disperse local pollution.
From July to September, cooler nights and lighter winds, with temperatures around 12°C, let traffic pollution linger near busy roads. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from January to February, around 21°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. Wildfire smoke is most likely from November to February, sometimes turning the sky hazy for days.
Get pollen & AQ on Strava
Follow your environmental exposure and performance with the free Airmine-Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Western Cape
Is air quality bad in Sir Lowry's Pass right now?
On 11 October 2026, overall air quality in Sir Lowry's Pass is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 72.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 72.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sir Lowry's Pass?
On 12 October 2026, air quality conditions in Sir Lowry's Pass will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 68.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 68.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sir Lowry's Pass?
From July to September, cooler nights and lighter winds, with temperatures around 12°C, let traffic pollution linger near busy roads. By contrast, warm, sunny weather from January to February, around 21°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. Wildfire smoke is most likely from November to February, sometimes turning the sky hazy for days.
Are air quality levels in Sir Lowry's Pass 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |