Mthatha pollen forecast - today, tomorrow and the week ahead
Today (16 July) pollen in Mthatha is low; cypress and mugwort are low. Tomorrow (17 July 2026) levels are similar - cypress remains low, mugwort remains low, plane at low levels. Over the following five days cypress, mugwort, and plane will decrease. Forecasts are calculated by Airmine using satellites to map local vegetation and determine pollen season onset.
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.
Mthatha's Eastern Cape Wild Coast setting features indigenous coastal forest, acacia, and introduced eucalyptus as the main tree pollen sources alongside Transkei grassland. Exposure varies between the Mthatha River valley forest corridor and the more built-up commercial corridors along Nelson Mandela Drive, while the surrounding Transkei grassland contributes substantial grass pollen and the indigenous coastal forest contributes distinctive forest canopy pollen throughout.
Today - 16 July
-
Alder (Alnus):
None
0/100
-
Birch (Betula):
None
0/100
-
Hazel (Corylus):
None
0/100
-
Cypress (Cupressaceae):
Low
7/100
-
Grass (Poaceae):
None
0/100
-
Willow (Salicaceae):
None
0/100
-
Mugwort (Artemisia):
Low
9/100
-
Mulberry (Morus):
None
0/100
-
Plane (Platanus):
None
0/100
-
Urtica:
None
0/100
High pollen levels may trigger sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion. Airmine's neighbourhood estimates use satellites to map local vegetation and a statistical prediction model, updated four times daily.
Tomorrow - 17 July
-
Alder (Alnus):
None
0/100
-
Birch (Betula):
None
0/100
-
Hazel (Corylus):
None
0/100
-
Cypress (Cupressaceae):
Low
17/100
-
Grass (Poaceae):
None
0/100
-
Willow (Salicaceae):
None
0/100
-
Mugwort (Artemisia):
Low
20/100
-
Mulberry (Morus):
None
0/100
-
Plane (Platanus):
Low
4/100
-
Urtica:
None
0/100
Air quality in Mthatha
View air qualityFrequently Asked Questions
Is pollen high in Mthatha right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall pollen levels in Mthatha are low. Artemisia is the main contributor to airborne pollen, while cypress remain at lower levels
Will pollen levels change in Mthatha tomorrow?
On 17 July 2026, pollen conditions in Mthatha will be different from today, with artemisia at low levels, cypress at low levels, platanus at low levels
Is pollen expected to decrease in Mthatha this week?
According to the five-day outlook, artemisia, cypress, and platanus pollen levels are expected to gradually decrease, suggesting improving conditions later in the week.
Which pollen types are currently active in Mthatha?
On 16 July 2026, Artemisia is the dominant pollen source in Mthatha. cypress are also present but at lower levels. morus, platanus, and urtica are not currently active.
When is pollen season in Mthatha?
How often is the Mthatha pollen forecast updated?
The Mthatha pollen forecast is updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Does pollen in Mthatha come from nearby or far away?
Studies show that most pollen exposure (often 70–90%) comes from nearby sources, such as local trees and vegetation. A good pollen forecast therefore depends on accurately representing local vegetation. Pollen can travel long distances, but this usually matters only early in the season or during specific wind events.
Are pollen levels in Mthatha based on measurements or forecasts?
Pollen data is often misunderstood. Most "pollen levels" are not real-time measurements, but forecasts.
Direct pollen measurements are typically delayed by 1-2 days because they require manual analysis. To show current conditions in Mthatha, modern forecasts combine recent measurements, weather data, and information about local vegetation.
This allows us to estimate pollen levels for today and the coming days, not just report the past.
Airmine’s atmospheric monitoring platform was developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team, using satellite and Earth observation technologies to improve emissions monitoring.
Want to see pollen forecasts for other cities in South Africa?
Check pollen in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This page provides the latest public pollen forecast for Mthatha.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.