Worst air pollution Wellington, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Wellington is fair. O3 and HCHO are fair; AQI, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 52.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Wellington is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 50.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.

Wellington's air quality in South Africa reflects the Cape Winelands Berg River valley, with vehicle traffic on the N1 national road and the surrounding wine, fruit, and logistics operations contributing local sources. The surrounding Hawequa and Groenberg mountains create topographic variation, while the Cape Doctor southeasterly periodically provides powerful ventilation from the Cape Peninsula and the Berg River valley's agricultural landscape and mountain backdrop generally maintain moderate to good conditions throughout most of the year.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Medium

52.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

42.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

14.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

43.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

22.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

52.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

32.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

45.4/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

50.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

44.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

17.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

43.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

26.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

50.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

29.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

48.9/100

Pollen forecast in Wellington

View pollen forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Wellington right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Wellington is fair. HCHO is the main pollutant at 32.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 52.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Wellington?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Wellington will be similar to today, with HCHO forecast at fair at 29.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 50.9/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Wellington?

At Wellington, occasional poor air quality tends to occur on calm winter days from June to August, when the Cape's usual wind drops off and local emissions can build up overnight around the town. Through spring and summer, the reliable southeasterly wind returns and generally keeps particulate levels low and well dispersed across the wider region.

Are air quality levels in Wellington 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.

Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?

Check air quality in other popular cities:

Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app