SmogRank / Malawi / Northern Region

Air quality in Mzuzu

Northern Region, Malawi. PM2.5 from 5 low-cost sensors, updated hourly.

42.0µg/m³
Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Latest hour (17:00 UTC), 2.8× the WHO 24-hour guideline.

Rank, worst first

24 hours–not enough data
7 days#46of 2,330, at 37.5 µg/m³
30 days#55of 2,324, at 36.5 µg/m³
This year#235of 2,173, at 19.4 µg/m³

Why it ranks here

Unusually bad for Mzuzu. The last 7 days averaged 37.5 µg/m³, about 2.6× its typical day (14.4). A jump like this usually has a short-lived cause: likely smoke from fires, dust, or stagnant weather trapping local emissions.
Likely fire smoke. On Sep 25, when Mzuzu averaged 48.0 µg/m³ (its typical day: 14.4), NASA satellites detected 1,081 fires within 300 km (20 within 100 km). Smoke from those fires is a likely contributor; we don't check which way the wind blew, and mapped smoke can be high above the ground.

Based on Mzuzu's own measurements, with fire detections from NASA FIRMS and smoke maps from NOAA HMS; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.

The last 12 months, day by day

1102031Oct 2025NovDecJan 2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep2025-10-01: no data2025-10-02: no data2025-10-03: no data2025-10-04: no data2025-10-05: no data2025-10-06: no data2025-10-07: no data2025-10-08: no data2025-10-09: no data2025-10-10: no data2025-10-11: no data2025-10-12: no data2025-10-13: no data2025-10-14: no data2025-10-15: no data2025-10-16: no data2025-10-17: no data2025-10-18: no data2025-10-19: no data2025-10-20: no data2025-10-21: no data2025-10-22: no data2025-10-23: no data2025-10-24: no data2025-10-25: no data2025-10-26: no data2025-10-27: no data2025-10-28: no data2025-10-29: no data2025-10-30: no data2025-10-31: no data2025-11-01: no data2025-11-02: no data2025-11-03: no data2025-11-04: no data2025-11-05: no data2025-11-06: no data2025-11-07: no data2025-11-08: no data2025-11-09: no data2025-11-10: no data2025-11-11: no data2025-11-12: no data2025-11-13: no data2025-11-14: no data2025-11-15: no data2025-11-16: no data2025-11-17: no data2025-11-18: no data2025-11-19: no data2025-11-20: no data2025-11-21: no data2025-11-22: no data2025-11-23: no data2025-11-24: no data2025-11-25: no data2025-11-26: no data2025-11-27: no data2025-11-28: no data2025-11-29: no data2025-11-30: no data2025-12-01: no data2025-12-02: no data2025-12-03: no data2025-12-04: no data2025-12-05: no data2025-12-06: no data2025-12-07: no data2025-12-08: no data2025-12-09: no data2025-12-10: no data2025-12-11: no data2025-12-12: no data2025-12-13: no data2025-12-14: no data2025-12-15: no data2025-12-16: no data2025-12-17: no data2025-12-18: no data2025-12-19: no data2025-12-20: no data2025-12-21: no data2025-12-22: no data2025-12-23: no data2025-12-24: no data2025-12-25: no data2025-12-26: no data2025-12-27: no data2025-12-28: no data2025-12-29: no data2025-12-30: no data2025-12-31: no data2026-01-01: no data2026-01-02: no data2026-01-03: no data2026-01-04: no data2026-01-05: no data2026-01-06: no data2026-01-07: no data2026-01-08: no data2026-01-09: no data2026-01-10: no data2026-01-11: no data2026-01-12: no data2026-01-13: no data2026-01-14: no data2026-01-15: no data2026-01-16: no data2026-01-17: no data2026-01-18: no data2026-01-19: no data2026-01-20: no data2026-01-21: 7.2 µg/m³2026-01-22: 9.9 µg/m³2026-01-23: 17.5 µg/m³2026-01-24: 8.5 µg/m³2026-01-25: no data2026-01-26: no data2026-01-27: 11.9 µg/m³2026-01-28: 9.7 µg/m³2026-01-29: 7.6 µg/m³2026-01-30: 8.8 µg/m³2026-01-31: 7.6 µg/m³2026-02-01: 6.8 µg/m³2026-02-02: 5.8 µg/m³2026-02-03: 4.2 µg/m³2026-02-04: 3.3 µg/m³2026-02-05: 8.9 µg/m³2026-02-06: 5.9 µg/m³2026-02-07: 12.5 µg/m³2026-02-08: 3.6 µg/m³2026-02-09: 9.8 µg/m³2026-02-10: 8.0 µg/m³2026-02-11: 9.4 µg/m³2026-02-12: 8.6 µg/m³2026-02-13: 8.3 µg/m³2026-02-14: 6.4 µg/m³2026-02-15: 4.9 µg/m³2026-02-16: no data2026-02-17: no data2026-02-18: no data2026-02-19: 5.3 µg/m³2026-02-20: 6.6 µg/m³2026-02-21: 9.4 µg/m³2026-02-22: 6.8 µg/m³2026-02-23: 11.3 µg/m³2026-02-24: 10.4 µg/m³2026-02-25: 11.7 µg/m³2026-02-26: no data2026-02-27: 3.8 µg/m³2026-02-28: 1.3 µg/m³2026-03-01: 6.1 µg/m³2026-03-02: 10.3 µg/m³2026-03-03: 3.2 µg/m³2026-03-04: 1.7 µg/m³2026-03-05: 7.7 µg/m³2026-03-06: 8.5 µg/m³2026-03-07: 12.4 µg/m³2026-03-08: 3.3 µg/m³2026-03-09: 3.2 µg/m³2026-03-10: 3.8 µg/m³2026-03-11: 3.1 µg/m³2026-03-12: 11.0 µg/m³2026-03-13: 17.6 µg/m³2026-03-14: 11.2 µg/m³2026-03-15: 9.1 µg/m³2026-03-16: 6.6 µg/m³2026-03-17: 8.3 µg/m³2026-03-18: 8.8 µg/m³2026-03-19: 5.5 µg/m³2026-03-20: 2.8 µg/m³2026-03-21: 1.7 µg/m³2026-03-22: 1.6 µg/m³2026-03-23: 12.8 µg/m³2026-03-24: 0.4 µg/m³2026-03-25: 1.9 µg/m³2026-03-26: 5.4 µg/m³2026-03-27: 6.4 µg/m³2026-03-28: 5.2 µg/m³2026-03-29: 8.1 µg/m³2026-03-30: 6.4 µg/m³2026-03-31: 5.1 µg/m³2026-04-01: 4.4 µg/m³2026-04-02: 4.8 µg/m³2026-04-03: 2.5 µg/m³2026-04-04: 3.8 µg/m³2026-04-05: 7.6 µg/m³2026-04-06: 10.4 µg/m³2026-04-07: 4.8 µg/m³2026-04-08: 2.1 µg/m³2026-04-09: 1.7 µg/m³2026-04-10: 1.6 µg/m³2026-04-11: 3.4 µg/m³2026-04-12: 2.7 µg/m³2026-04-13: 3.0 µg/m³2026-04-14: 1.9 µg/m³2026-04-15: 3.7 µg/m³2026-04-16: 3.6 µg/m³2026-04-17: 3.4 µg/m³2026-04-18: 6.1 µg/m³2026-04-19: 6.1 µg/m³2026-04-20: 4.3 µg/m³2026-04-21: 7.7 µg/m³2026-04-22: 5.7 µg/m³2026-04-23: 5.8 µg/m³2026-04-24: 6.7 µg/m³2026-04-25: 8.2 µg/m³2026-04-26: 11.9 µg/m³2026-04-27: 13.9 µg/m³2026-04-28: 11.1 µg/m³2026-04-29: 6.3 µg/m³2026-04-30: 6.4 µg/m³2026-05-01: 12.7 µg/m³2026-05-02: 10.2 µg/m³2026-05-03: 6.5 µg/m³2026-05-04: 9.1 µg/m³2026-05-05: 14.4 µg/m³2026-05-06: 20.6 µg/m³2026-05-07: 16.6 µg/m³2026-05-08: 12.6 µg/m³2026-05-09: 5.4 µg/m³2026-05-10: 7.8 µg/m³2026-05-11: 7.9 µg/m³2026-05-12: 15.2 µg/m³2026-05-13: 6.7 µg/m³2026-05-14: 4.9 µg/m³2026-05-15: 7.5 µg/m³2026-05-16: 10.1 µg/m³2026-05-17: 17.5 µg/m³2026-05-18: 13.9 µg/m³2026-05-19: 6.9 µg/m³2026-05-20: 6.6 µg/m³2026-05-21: 17.9 µg/m³2026-05-22: 22.5 µg/m³2026-05-23: 13.4 µg/m³2026-05-24: 11.9 µg/m³2026-05-25: 10.2 µg/m³2026-05-26: 9.0 µg/m³2026-05-27: 21.7 µg/m³2026-05-28: 22.9 µg/m³2026-05-29: 22.7 µg/m³2026-05-30: 14.6 µg/m³2026-05-31: 15.9 µg/m³2026-06-01: 14.8 µg/m³2026-06-02: 16.8 µg/m³2026-06-03: 15.6 µg/m³2026-06-04: 13.6 µg/m³2026-06-05: 13.4 µg/m³2026-06-06: 14.3 µg/m³2026-06-07: 14.3 µg/m³2026-06-08: 16.3 µg/m³2026-06-09: 26.6 µg/m³2026-06-10: 27.7 µg/m³2026-06-11: 21.1 µg/m³2026-06-12: 12.4 µg/m³2026-06-13: 16.0 µg/m³2026-06-14: 14.5 µg/m³2026-06-15: 20.1 µg/m³2026-06-16: 19.9 µg/m³2026-06-17: 18.3 µg/m³2026-06-18: 19.4 µg/m³2026-06-19: 24.6 µg/m³2026-06-20: 17.0 µg/m³2026-06-21: 17.5 µg/m³2026-06-22: 14.4 µg/m³2026-06-23: 17.9 µg/m³2026-06-24: 21.2 µg/m³2026-06-25: 39.2 µg/m³2026-06-26: 59.3 µg/m³2026-06-27: no data2026-06-28: 20.3 µg/m³2026-06-29: 33.1 µg/m³2026-06-30: 23.3 µg/m³2026-07-01: 20.0 µg/m³2026-07-02: 21.8 µg/m³2026-07-03: 28.6 µg/m³2026-07-04: 27.3 µg/m³2026-07-05: 22.8 µg/m³2026-07-06: 19.1 µg/m³2026-07-07: 17.3 µg/m³2026-07-08: 24.6 µg/m³2026-07-09: 27.9 µg/m³2026-07-10: 30.9 µg/m³2026-07-11: 31.6 µg/m³2026-07-12: 30.3 µg/m³2026-07-13: 32.3 µg/m³2026-07-14: 38.6 µg/m³2026-07-15: 48.7 µg/m³2026-07-16: 44.9 µg/m³2026-07-17: 45.8 µg/m³2026-07-18: 27.7 µg/m³2026-07-19: 24.7 µg/m³2026-07-20: 31.0 µg/m³2026-07-21: 41.1 µg/m³2026-07-22: 39.6 µg/m³2026-07-23: 38.6 µg/m³2026-07-24: 31.3 µg/m³2026-07-25: 28.7 µg/m³2026-07-26: 26.8 µg/m³2026-07-27: 15.5 µg/m³2026-07-28: 22.6 µg/m³2026-07-29: 28.8 µg/m³2026-07-30: 30.8 µg/m³2026-07-31: 36.2 µg/m³2026-08-01: 46.9 µg/m³2026-08-02: 37.8 µg/m³2026-08-03: 27.9 µg/m³2026-08-04: 35.4 µg/m³2026-08-05: 47.5 µg/m³2026-08-06: 49.8 µg/m³2026-08-07: 56.1 µg/m³2026-08-08: 53.5 µg/m³2026-08-09: 38.3 µg/m³2026-08-10: 24.7 µg/m³2026-08-11: 14.1 µg/m³2026-08-12: 26.4 µg/m³2026-08-13: 45.7 µg/m³2026-08-14: 13.1 µg/m³2026-08-15: 23.0 µg/m³2026-08-16: 27.3 µg/m³2026-08-17: 35.2 µg/m³2026-08-18: 43.3 µg/m³2026-08-19: 48.1 µg/m³2026-08-20: 45.7 µg/m³2026-08-21: 37.1 µg/m³2026-08-22: 33.0 µg/m³2026-08-23: 27.3 µg/m³2026-08-24: 47.6 µg/m³2026-08-25: 62.4 µg/m³2026-08-26: 61.1 µg/m³2026-08-27: no data2026-08-28: no data2026-08-29: 41.1 µg/m³2026-08-30: 40.6 µg/m³2026-08-31: 31.8 µg/m³2026-09-01: 34.3 µg/m³2026-09-02: 42.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 41.1 µg/m³2026-09-04: 36.1 µg/m³2026-09-05: 30.1 µg/m³2026-09-06: 36.9 µg/m³2026-09-07: 39.4 µg/m³2026-09-08: 48.5 µg/m³2026-09-09: 29.6 µg/m³2026-09-10: 32.3 µg/m³2026-09-11: 34.7 µg/m³2026-09-12: 36.7 µg/m³2026-09-13: 34.9 µg/m³2026-09-14: 39.5 µg/m³2026-09-15: 42.2 µg/m³2026-09-16: 38.5 µg/m³2026-09-17: 27.0 µg/m³2026-09-18: 18.7 µg/m³2026-09-19: 23.9 µg/m³2026-09-20: 36.5 µg/m³2026-09-21: 37.4 µg/m³2026-09-22: 42.1 µg/m³2026-09-23: 51.2 µg/m³2026-09-24: 37.4 µg/m³2026-09-25: 48.0 µg/m³. Likely fire smoke2026-09-26: 39.4 µg/m³2026-09-27: 29.5 µg/m³2026-09-28: no data2026-09-29: no data2026-09-30: 33.4 µg/m³
119 of 242 measured days were over the WHO 24-hour guideline (15 µg/m³). One row per month, one square per local day; outlined days are named in the notes above.
Good0–9.0
Moderate9.1–35.4
Sensitive groups35.5–55.4
Unhealthy55.5–125.4
Very unhealthy125.5–225.4
Hazardous225.5+

Last 4 days, hour by hour

15452026-10-01 00:00 UTC: 45.2 µg/m³2026-10-01 01:00 UTC: 44.6 µg/m³2026-10-01 02:00 UTC: 42.1 µg/m³2026-10-01 03:00 UTC: 43.2 µg/m³2026-10-01 04:00 UTC: 42.7 µg/m³2026-10-01 05:00 UTC: 43.3 µg/m³2026-10-01 06:00 UTC: 35.4 µg/m³2026-10-01 07:00 UTC: 29.8 µg/m³2026-10-01 08:00 UTC: 23.9 µg/m³2026-10-01 09:00 UTC: 26.2 µg/m³2026-10-01 10:00 UTC: 28.2 µg/m³2026-10-01 12:00 UTC: 29.7 µg/m³2026-10-01 13:00 UTC: 29.5 µg/m³2026-10-01 14:00 UTC: 28.3 µg/m³2026-10-01 15:00 UTC: 30.3 µg/m³2026-10-01 16:00 UTC: 43.5 µg/m³2026-10-01 17:00 UTC: 42.0 µg/m³Sep 28Sep 29Sep 30Oct 1
Times in UTC. Dashed line: WHO 24-hour guideline (15 µg/m³).

Its world rank, day by day

#1#2372FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep
Rank on each day's board (1 = most polluted city that day).

2026 against 2025, month by month

15JanFeb 2026: 7.2 µg/m³FebMar 2026: 6.4 µg/m³MarApr 2026: 5.5 µg/m³AprMay 2026: 12.8 µg/m³MayJun 2026: 20.8 µg/m³JunJul 2026: 30.2 µg/m³JulAug 2026: 38.7 µg/m³AugSep 2026: 36.5 µg/m³SepOctNovDec
Faded bars: 2025. A month shows once it has 10 measured days.

Monitors

StationOperatorType
Luwinga, MzuzuCC BY 4.0MUBAS Air QualityLow-cost
Mzuzu University-MIfCASCC BY 4.0MIfCASLow-cost
MIfCAS-NsanjeCC BY 4.0MIfCASLow-cost
MIfCAS-ChikwawaCC BY 4.0MIfCASLow-cost
CBD, MzuzuCC BY 4.0MUBAS Air QualityLow-cost

No reference monitor here, so the value is the median of low-cost sensors (at least two reporting each hour). Low-cost sensors can read high in humid air. Data via OpenAQ; licences as listed. How we rank. Embed this on your site.

Other cities in Malawi

30-day averages, µg/m³. All of Malawi.

Updated 2026-10-01 18:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.