Cape Town Marathon - Pollen and Air Quality Forecast for Today
Pollen levels are low today, with cypress as the main active species. Air quality along the route is good, with all pollutants at low levels. Based on Airmine's forecast, which uses satellite data to calculate exposure every 200 metres along the route, air quality is at its worst 18.6 km after start. Pollen exposure peaks at 11.7 km after start.
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.
The Cape Town Marathon takes place in spring, when grass pollen levels can be elevated alongside contributions from fynbos and urban trees. Coastal winds often help disperse allergens, though conditions can vary, influencing comfort along the scenic route through the city and coastline.
Today - 11 July
Pollen
Alder (Alnus):
None
0/100
Birch (Betula):
None
0/100
Hazel (Corylus):
None
0/100
Cypress (Cupressaceae):
Low
8/100
Grass (Poaceae):
None
0/100
Willow (Salicaceae):
None
0/100
Oak (Quercus):
None
0/100
Mugwort (Artemisia):
None
2/100
Mulberry (Morus):
None
0/100
Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae):
None
2/100
Plane (Platanus):
None
0/100
Nettle (Urtica):
None
0/100
Acacia (Acacia):
None
0/100
Ragweed (Ambrosia):
None
0/100
Urtica:
None
0/100
Air Quality
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
9.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
16.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.7/100
Levels show the highest exposure along the full route
Other routes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is air quality worst on the Cape Town Marathon route?
Based on today's forecast, HCHO is forecast at good levels along the route today (16.9/100). Air quality is at its worst after 18.6 km into the route. Airmine calculates exposure at 200m intervals along the course using satellite-derived atmospheric data.
Where is pollen highest on the Cape Town Marathon course?
Pollen exposure peaks at km 11.7 today. This changes through the season as different pollen species become active.
When is pollen worst during the Cape Town Marathon season?
May coincides with peak cypress season. Grass pollen typically rises in May-June.
How often is this forecast updated?
Updated four times daily. See the timestamp below for the most recent update.
Are pollen levels in Cape Town Marathon 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 Cape Town Marathon, 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.
Levels show the highest exposure along the full route. Airmine uses satellite data to calculate pollen and air quality every 200 metres along each race route, updated four times daily.
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 11 July 2026 at 10:14 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 responsibiity.