Cape Town Marathon - Pollen and Air Quality Forecast for Today
Pollen
Pollen levels are low today, with mugwort and cypress as the main active species. Based on Airmine's forecast, which uses satellite data to calculate exposure every 200 metres along the route, pollen exposure peaks at 21.5 km after start.
Air Quality
Air quality along the route is fair. SO2 (26.2/100), PM1 (24.3/100), HCHO (23.2/100), and PM2.5 (21.5/100) are fair. The remaining pollutants stay at good 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.
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Environmental Exposure Detail
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is a candidate to become Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major. Starting and finishing near Green Point Stadium, its coastal loop runs beneath Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill.
Pollen is generally lower in autumn, though weeds and mould can linger. As a city course, traffic emissions (NO2 and PM2.5) matter more here than pollen.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Forecast for 23 August
Pollen Forecast
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia (Acacia) | None | 0/100 |
| Alder (Alnus) | None | 0/100 |
| Birch (Betula) | None | 0/100 |
| Hazel (Corylus) | None | 0/100 |
| Cypress (Cupressaceae) | Low | 10/100 |
| Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) | None | 2/100 |
| Grass (Poaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Oak (Quercus) | None | 0/100 |
| Willow (Salicaceae) | None | 0/100 |
| Mugwort (Artemisia) | Low | 19/100 |
| Mulberry (Morus) | None | 0/100 |
| Plane (Platanus) | None | 0/100 |
| Nettle (Urtica) | None | 0/100 |
| Ragweed (Ambrosia) | None | 0/100 |
| Goosefoot (Amaranthaceae) | None | 0/100 |
Air Quality Forecast
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 28.6/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 21.5/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Good | 6.5/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 15.1/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Fair | 26.2/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.0/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Fair | 23.2/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Fair | 24.3/100 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is air quality worst on the Cape Town Marathon route?
Based on today's forecast, SO2 is forecast at fair levels along the route today (26.2/100). 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 21.5 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 mugwort 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 scores represent risk levels, not direct measurements of pollen or air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk. Pollen and air quality use different thresholds.
Pollen
| None | 0 | No or negligible risk of exposure. Pollen exposure is expected to be minimal. |
| Low | 0-25 | Low risk of exposure. Small amounts of pollen may be present. |
| Moderate | 25-50 | Moderate risk of exposure. Pollen exposure is expected to be noticeable. |
| High | 50-75 | High risk of exposure. Elevated pollen exposure is expected. |
| Very High | 75-100 | Very high risk of exposure. Pollen exposure is expected to be at or near its highest levels. |
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. |