Air quality index for Dire Dawa, as of (Africa/Addis_Ababa). Values update hourly — see this page for the current reading and hourly forecast. Today's peak: AQI 124 at 22:00 local time.

airindex·today

Air Quality in Dire Dawa

Air quality in Dire Dawa is AQI 119 (unhealthy for sensitive groups) right now, and stays in that band as today's forecast climbs to AQI 124 around 22:00. Today the index is led by fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), at 9.8 µg/m³. The index does not drop below 100 at any point today. Little changes hour to hour: today's values stay between AQI 116 and AQI 124.

Now, Oct 17at 15:00
119Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Good0–50
Moderate51–100
Sensitive groups101–150
Unhealthy151–200
Very unhealthy201–300
Hazardous301+

By pollutant

  • PM₂.₅ fine particles · sets the index nowAQI 119
  • PM₁₀ coarse particlesAQI 45
  • O₃ ozoneAQI 42
  • CO carbon monoxideAQI 5
  • SO₂ sulfur dioxideAQI 1
  • NO₂ nitrogen dioxideAQI 0
Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity
Take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath

Modeled forecast data. AQI values come from atmospheric models (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not local monitoring stations. Readings can differ from ground-level conditions — for exact street-level values, consult an official air quality station near you. The forecast is calculated for a grid square, roughly 11 km across Europe and 45 km elsewhere, and air quality can vary within one square.

The next 48 hours

Hourly air quality index for Dire Dawa · Local time (GMT+3)

Today, Oct 17
Tomorrow, Oct 18
50
100
Peak 124 · 22:00
Peak 127 · 17:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00
0:00
6:00
12:00
18:00

Good ≤ 50 · Moderate ≤ 100

Now
Show hourly data table
TimeAQIPM₂.₅µg/m³PM₁₀µg/m³O₃µg/m³NO₂µg/m³SO₂µg/m³COmg/m³°C
Today
00:00117647438144.51.1023°
01:00116818828164.61.3622°
02:00117899318184.61.6422°
03:0011810010610205.21.8422°
04:001161001045.0204.81.9522°
05:00116981010.0204.32.0822°
06:00116991014.0183.92.0121°
07:00118969929133.71.5722°
08:001194348656.23.60.9425°
09:001192434921.13.40.4527°
10:0011918251030.02.80.2829°
11:0011913191060.12.10.2530°
12:0011912171070.61.50.2431°
13:0011911161080.51.20.2132°
14:0011910151060.41.10.1932°
15:001199.8161040.41.00.1932°
16:0012010201000.40.90.1731°
17:001211126960.50.80.1530°
18:001221432901.01.00.1729°
19:001222241832.21.60.2627°
20:001233048763.92.50.3726°
21:001233551675.83.20.5125°
22:001243952587.93.70.6623°
23:00123465747104.20.8323°
Tomorrow
00:00123647237134.51.0423°
01:00123828826154.61.3222°
02:00123939815184.71.6322°
03:00124991037.0204.61.8922°
04:001231031060.0214.52.1321°
05:001241041070.0224.32.3021°
06:001241061083.0204.02.2421°
07:0012510110430143.71.7423°
08:001265054686.83.31.0127°
09:001262334961.12.80.4429°
10:0012615381040.02.10.2230°
11:0012612381020.01.40.1731°
12:001261138990.30.90.1632°
13:001261138970.20.80.1332°
14:001261241940.20.80.1432°
15:001261344910.20.90.1432°
16:001261346890.30.90.1431°
17:001271446870.40.90.1430°
18:001271443840.71.00.1628°
19:001271643810.91.10.1727°
20:001261743761.31.30.1925°
21:001252146712.31.70.2624°
22:001233252634.72.60.4123°
23:001234565537.73.80.6022°

Today at a glance

Worst stretch
All day
peaks at AQI 124
Tomorrow
Much the same, peak 127
peak at 17:00

The week, hour by hour

Tomorrow looks much the same, peaking at AQI 127 (unhealthy for sensitive groups) around 17:00. The 5-day outlook reads Saturday (unhealthy for sensitive groups), Sunday (unhealthy for sensitive groups), Monday (unhealthy for sensitive groups), Tuesday (moderate), and Wednesday (moderate) — Sunday looks the worst.

Each cell is one forecast hour, coloured by air quality band. A ring marks the day's worst hour. The blue ring marks the current hour.

TodayOct 17
Peak 124 at 22:00
Overcast32° / 21°
SunOct 18
Peak 127 at 17:00
Overcast32° / 21°
MonOct 19
Peak 123 at 00:00
Overcast33° / 20°
TueOct 20
Peak 92 at 00:00
Partly cloudy32° / 20°
WedOct 21
Peak 94 at 03:00
Partly cloudy32° / 21°

Pollutants right now

Every pollutant on the same AQI scale as the big number above. The index only ever equals the worst score — pollutants don't add up.

050100150+
PM₂.₅fine particles · sets the index now
119
PM₁₀coarse particles
45
O₃ozone
42
COcarbon monoxide
5
SO₂sulfur dioxide
1
NO₂nitrogen dioxide
0
GoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardous

The colors cover a wide area, not a street. The forecast works in squares of roughly 11 km across Europe and 45 km elsewhere, so the air where you actually are can differ from the shade under the city.

Check air quality in: Harar · Djibouti · Jijiga · Boorama · Balbala

About Dire Dawa

CountryEthiopia, Dire Dawa
TimezoneAfrica/Addis Ababa (UTC+3)
Coordinates9.59° N, 41.87° E
Population≈ 343K

Air quality in Dire Dawa — common questions

What is the air quality in Dire Dawa right now?

The current air quality index (AQI) in Dire Dawa is 119 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Today's forecast peak is AQI 124 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) at 22:00 local time, and tomorrow's forecast peak is AQI 127. These values come from the CAMS forecast model, not from a local monitoring station.

When is air quality expected to be worst in Dire Dawa today?

Today's forecast puts the highest AQI in Dire Dawa at 22:00 in the evening, reaching 124. The largest contributor right now is PM₂.₅. Air quality shifts through the day with traffic, wind, how well the air mixes and sunlight, so the hourly chart above shows the pattern for today and tomorrow.

What will the air quality be in Dire Dawa tomorrow?

Tomorrow's forecast peak for Dire Dawa is AQI 127 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) around 17:00 local time, much the same as today's peak of 124. A next-day forecast is less certain than today's, so check back in the morning for the updated hourly curve.

Which pollutants drive the AQI in Dire Dawa today?

The air quality index in Dire Dawa is set by PM₂.₅ right now. The modelled level this hour is 9.8 µg/m³, within the World Health Organization's 2021 guideline of 15 µg/m³. The others follow: PM₁₀ (AQI 45), O₃ (AQI 42), CO (AQI 5), and SO₂ (AQI 1).
Pollutant levels in Dire Dawa at the current hour
PollutantSub-indexLevelWHO 2021Vs guideline
PM₂.₅1199.8 µg/m³15 µg/m³ (24h)0.7×
PM₁₀4516 µg/m³45 µg/m³ (24h)0.4×
O₃42104 µg/m³100 µg/m³ (8h)1.0×
CO50.19 mg/m³4 mg/m³ (24h)0.05×
SO₂11.0 µg/m³40 µg/m³ (24h)0.03×
NO₂00.4 µg/m³25 µg/m³ (24h)0.02×
The overall AQI is the highest of the six sub-indices, so the pollutant with the highest sub-index is the one setting the number shown on this page. Sub-indices are computed over the EPA's averaging periods, while the levels are modelled values for the current hour.

Is air quality improving in Dire Dawa this week?

Over the 5-day forecast, daily peak AQI in Dire Dawa falls from 124 to 94. These are peak values: each day still has cleaner and dirtier hours, which the chart above shows. The worst day of the stretch is Sunday, peaking at AQI 127.

How is air quality forecast for Dire Dawa, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia?

Air quality for Dire Dawa is forecast with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), operated by ECMWF. CAMS models hourly levels of PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Dire Dawa lies at 9.6° N in the Northern Hemisphere, which sets the seasonal pattern of sunlight that drives much of the chemistry behind these pollutants. AQI values on this page use the US EPA scale.
About the Air Quality Index

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate how clean or polluted the air is and what health effects may be of concern. The AQI runs from 0 to 500 and is divided into six color-coded categories: Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, and Hazardous.

How do I read the AQI values?

Lower AQI values mean cleaner air. An AQI of 0–50 (green) is Good, 51–100 (yellow) is Moderate, 101–150 (orange) is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151–200 (red) is Unhealthy, 201–300 (purple) is Very Unhealthy, and 301–500 (maroon) is Hazardous. When the AQI exceeds 100, air quality is considered unhealthy — at first for sensitive groups, then for everyone as the AQI rises.

Who are the sensitive groups?

Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, people who are pregnant, and people who are active outdoors. These groups are more likely to be affected when air quality is poor. If you are in a sensitive group, you can reduce your exposure by taking fewer and shorter outdoor walks when the AQI is elevated.

Which pollutants are measured?

The AQI covers five major pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone (O₃), particle pollution (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). An AQI value is calculated for each pollutant, and the highest value determines the overall AQI.

Where does the air quality data come from?

The hourly air quality data comes from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which provides global atmospheric composition forecasts. The data is accessed via Open-Meteo, which provides free, open-source weather and air quality APIs. The AQI categories and health guidance follow the EPA AirNow technical standard (EPA-454/B-24-002).

What are the health effects of poor air quality?

Poor air quality can cause respiratory issues, aggravate asthma and allergies, and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Fine particles (PM₂.₅) can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes millions of premature deaths worldwide each year.

How often is the air quality forecast updated?

The CAMS air quality forecast is updated regularly using atmospheric models. Weather data such as temperature and cloud cover comes from Open-Meteo. The forecast provides up to 5 days of hourly air quality predictions.

AQI Levels (US EPA Standard)

Good (0–50) — Air quality is satisfactory — it's a great day to be active outside
Moderate (51–100) — Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or intense outdoor activity
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150) — Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity. Take more breaks and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath
Unhealthy (151–200) — Everyone should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor activity. Sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion. Consider moving activities indoors
Very Unhealthy (201–300) — Everyone should avoid prolonged or intense outdoor exertion. Sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor physical activity. Move activities indoors or reschedule
Hazardous (301–500) — Health warning — everyone should avoid all outdoor physical activity. Stay indoors and keep activity levels light. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors

AQI categories and health guidance: EPA AirNow (EPA-454/B-24-002, May 2024). Air quality data: CAMS/Copernicus via Open-Meteo.