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St Paul's Bay

San Pawl il-Baħar · Malta · Traffic · Urban

What's affecting the air?(4)

Conditions across the Maltese Islands that may be influencing air quality. Context explains a reading; it never adjusts one, and it does not establish the cause of any individual measurement.

  • Saharan dust forecast

    The CAMS model forecasts mineral dust concentrations peaking near 40 µg/m³ over the Maltese Islands, with an aerosol optical depth of about 0.37. Dust transported from North Africa may contribute to elevated PM10 and, to a lesser extent, PM2.5. Dust is a natural source, but the particles it adds affect health in much the same way as other coarse particulate matter.

    May worsen air quality

    ForecastModerate confidenceMaltese Islands

    Most relevant to: PM10, PM2.5

    –

    Source:Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), via Open-Meteo (Opens in a new window)

    Retrieved at

  • Light winds and limited dispersion

    Wind speeds are forecast to fall to about 1.8 km/h for around 11 hours. Light winds may allow locally emitted pollutants — traffic nitrogen dioxide and fine particles in particular — to accumulate near the ground instead of dispersing.

    May worsen air quality

    ForecastModerate confidenceMaltese Islands

    Most relevant to: NO₂, PM2.5, PM10

    –

    Source:Open-Meteo weather forecast (ECMWF and DWD models) (Opens in a new window)

    Retrieved at

  • Conditions that may favour ozone formation

    Warm, sunny and lightly ventilated conditions are forecast around the middle of the day, with temperatures near 33.9 °C. Ozone is formed in sunlight from other pollutants rather than emitted directly, so this combination is likely to raise afternoon ozone levels.

    May worsen air quality

    ForecastModerate confidenceMaltese Islands

    Most relevant to: O₃

    –

    Source:Open-Meteo weather forecast (ECMWF and DWD models) (Opens in a new window)

    Retrieved at

View all(1)

  • Shallow mixing layer — possible temperature inversion

    The forecast mixing layer drops to about 25 m with warmer air above it. That pattern is the signature of a temperature inversion, which may trap pollutants close to the ground overnight and into the early morning. This is a model-based indication rather than a measured inversion.

    May worsen air quality

    ForecastLower confidenceMaltese Islands

    Most relevant to: NO₂, PM2.5, PM10

    –

    Source:Open-Meteo weather forecast (ECMWF and DWD models) (Opens in a new window)

    Retrieved at

Source:Open-Meteo weather forecast (ECMWF and DWD models) (Opens in a new window)Source:Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), via Open-Meteo (Opens in a new window)

Retrieved at

Air quality now

St Paul's Bay: Fair2.3Provisional

Air quality is fair. Outdoor activities are fine for most people.

Concentrations are a little above the lowest band but remain well within everyday levels.

Leading pollutant: PM2.5The pollutant with the highest sub-index at this hour. The overall band is the worst sub-index across the pollutants this station reported.

Live1 hour oldMeasured at Retrieved at

Next reading expected around Wed 29 Jul, 20:58

Near-real-time readings are provisional. ERA validates data after publication, and figures may be revised.

Pollutants measured

Measured at Wed 29 Jul, 19:00

  • PM2.5, fine particulate matter

    Leading pollutant

    9.4 µg/m³

    PM2.5, fine particulate matter: Fair2.3

    Averaging period: Hourly

  • PM10, coarse particulate matter

    24 µg/m³

    PM10, coarse particulate matter: Fair2.3

    Averaging period: Hourly

  • Nitrogen dioxide

    10 µg/m³

    Nitrogen dioxide: Good2.0

    Averaging period: Hourly

  • Ozone

    65 µg/m³

    Ozone: Fair2.1

    Averaging period: Hourly

  • Sulphur dioxide

    0.9 µg/m³

    Sulphur dioxide: Good1.0

    Averaging period: Hourly

Trends and recent history

Hourly values as published, including hours the feed filled in by modelling.

The published feed carries roughly ten days of hourly history and about two days of forecast, so no longer window is offered. Hours the instrument did not report are shown as gaps. This view covers 305 hours from Sat 18 Jul, 20:00 to Fri 31 Jul, 12:00.

Concentration (µg/m³)

Time (Malta)

  • Measured
  • Estimated
  • Forecast
  • Gap — no value published for that hour
  • Everything to the right of this line is forecast.
  • Good 0–60 µg/m³
  • Fair 60–100 µg/m³
  • Moderate 100–120 µg/m³
  • Poor 120–160 µg/m³

Ozone at St Paul's Bay, hourly, in µg/m³, covering the whole record the feed publishes. The published points run from Sat 18 Jul, 20:00 to Fri 31 Jul, 12:00. 305 hours are shown: 253 measured, 1 filled in by modelling, 41 forecast, and 10 with no value at all. Measured values ran from 0.9 µg/m³ at Mon 27 Jul, 04:00 to 141 µg/m³ at Wed 22 Jul, 16:00, averaging 69 µg/m³ across the 253 measured hours.

Show the values as a table
Values shown in the chart above — Ozone, µg/m³.
Time (Malta)ValueBandHow the value was obtained
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
71 µg/m³FairMeasured
69 µg/m³FairMeasured
56 µg/m³GoodMeasured
44 µg/m³GoodMeasured
38 µg/m³GoodMeasured
33 µg/m³GoodMeasured
36 µg/m³GoodMeasured
53 µg/m³GoodMeasured
51 µg/m³GoodMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
30 µg/m³GoodMeasured
35 µg/m³GoodMeasured
36 µg/m³GoodMeasured
39 µg/m³GoodMeasured
49 µg/m³GoodMeasured
57 µg/m³GoodMeasured
58 µg/m³GoodMeasured
76 µg/m³FairMeasured
99 µg/m³FairMeasured
84 µg/m³FairMeasured
85 µg/m³FairMeasured
87 µg/m³FairMeasured
83 µg/m³FairMeasured
77 µg/m³FairMeasured
43 µg/m³GoodMeasured
25 µg/m³GoodMeasured
37 µg/m³GoodMeasured
44 µg/m³GoodMeasured
48 µg/m³GoodMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
76 µg/m³FairMeasured
72 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
49 µg/m³GoodMeasured
58 µg/m³GoodMeasured
75 µg/m³FairMeasured
100 µg/m³FairMeasured
99 µg/m³FairMeasured
102 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
116 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
114 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
100 µg/m³FairMeasured
107 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
106 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
88 µg/m³FairMeasured
74 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
46 µg/m³GoodMeasured
31 µg/m³GoodMeasured
18 µg/m³GoodMeasured
44 µg/m³GoodMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
71 µg/m³FairMeasured
85 µg/m³FairMeasured
94 µg/m³FairMeasured
93 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
18 µg/m³GoodMeasured
24 µg/m³GoodMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
76 µg/m³FairMeasured
87 µg/m³FairMeasured
96 µg/m³FairMeasured
110 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
130 µg/m³PoorMeasured
128 µg/m³PoorMeasured
111 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
91 µg/m³FairMeasured
94 µg/m³FairMeasured
98 µg/m³FairMeasured
70 µg/m³FairMeasured
29 µg/m³GoodMeasured
35 µg/m³GoodMeasured
36 µg/m³GoodMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
79 µg/m³FairMeasured
88 µg/m³FairMeasured
87 µg/m³FairMeasured
82 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
55 µg/m³GoodMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
68 µg/m³FairMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
95 µg/m³FairMeasured
118 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
135 µg/m³PoorMeasured
141 µg/m³PoorMeasured
138 µg/m³PoorMeasured
127 µg/m³PoorMeasured
113 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
100 µg/m³FairMeasured
83 µg/m³FairMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
68 µg/m³FairMeasured
66 µg/m³FairMeasured
56 µg/m³GoodMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
37 µg/m³GoodMeasured
43 µg/m³GoodMeasured
45 µg/m³GoodMeasured
52 µg/m³GoodMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
68 µg/m³FairMeasured
69 µg/m³FairMeasured
74 µg/m³FairMeasured
79 µg/m³FairMeasured
80 µg/m³FairMeasured
77 µg/m³FairMeasured
58 µg/m³GoodMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
66 µg/m³FairMeasured
42 µg/m³GoodMeasured
33 µg/m³GoodMeasured
39 µg/m³GoodMeasured
38 µg/m³GoodMeasured
47 µg/m³GoodMeasured
60 µg/m³GoodMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
71 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
75 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
75 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
86 µg/m³FairMeasured
88 µg/m³FairMeasured
95 µg/m³FairMeasured
90 µg/m³FairMeasured
88 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
86 µg/m³FairMeasured
93 µg/m³FairMeasured
100 µg/m³FairMeasured
88 µg/m³FairMeasured
91 µg/m³FairMeasured
74 µg/m³FairMeasured
72 µg/m³FairMeasured
77 µg/m³FairMeasured
84 µg/m³FairMeasured
85 µg/m³FairMeasured
93 µg/m³FairMeasured
98 µg/m³FairMeasured
72 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
29 µg/m³GoodMeasured
57 µg/m³GoodMeasured
83 µg/m³FairMeasured
92 µg/m³FairMeasured
96 µg/m³FairMeasured
102 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
110 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
109 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
101 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
102 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
107 µg/m³ModerateMeasured
98 µg/m³FairMeasured
70 µg/m³FairMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
46 µg/m³GoodMeasured
35 µg/m³GoodMeasured
32 µg/m³GoodMeasured
30 µg/m³GoodMeasured
37 µg/m³GoodMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
60 µg/m³GoodMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
75 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
49 µg/m³GoodMeasured
55 µg/m³GoodMeasured
72 µg/m³FairMeasured
72 µg/m³FairMeasured
76 µg/m³FairMeasured
79 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
71 µg/m³FairMeasured
69 µg/m³FairMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
70 µg/m³FairMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
59 µg/m³GoodMeasured
50 µg/m³GoodMeasured
52 µg/m³GoodMeasured
39 µg/m³GoodMeasured
56 µg/m³GoodMeasured
74 µg/m³FairMeasured
77 µg/m³FairMeasured
1.1 µg/m³GoodMeasured
0.9 µg/m³GoodMeasured
0.9 µg/m³GoodMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
30 µg/m³GoodMeasured
39 µg/m³GoodMeasured
49 µg/m³GoodMeasured
52 µg/m³GoodMeasured
60 µg/m³GoodMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
60 µg/m³GoodMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
68 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
69 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
53 µg/m³GoodMeasured
57 µg/m³GoodMeasured
70 µg/m³FairMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
59 µg/m³GoodMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
61 µg/m³FairMeasured
Not availableNo dataNo value for this hour
55 µg/m³GoodMeasured
51 µg/m³GoodMeasured
49 µg/m³GoodMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
81 µg/m³FairMeasured
83 µg/m³FairMeasured
86 µg/m³FairMeasured
90 µg/m³FairMeasured
83 µg/m³FairMeasured
93 µg/m³FairMeasured
100 µg/m³FairMeasured
92 µg/m³FairMeasured
73 µg/m³FairMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
53 µg/m³GoodMeasured
54 µg/m³GoodMeasured
67 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
60 µg/m³GoodMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
70 µg/m³FairMeasured
70 µg/m³FairEstimated
57 µg/m³GoodMeasured
53 µg/m³GoodMeasured
53 µg/m³GoodMeasured
57 µg/m³GoodMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
62 µg/m³FairMeasured
63 µg/m³FairMeasured
75 µg/m³FairMeasured
80 µg/m³FairMeasured
78 µg/m³FairMeasured
68 µg/m³FairMeasured
64 µg/m³FairMeasured
65 µg/m³FairMeasured
85 µg/m³FairForecast
84 µg/m³FairForecast
84 µg/m³FairForecast
86 µg/m³FairForecast
87 µg/m³FairForecast
76 µg/m³FairForecast
72 µg/m³FairForecast
70 µg/m³FairForecast
70 µg/m³FairForecast
68 µg/m³FairForecast
70 µg/m³FairForecast
71 µg/m³FairForecast
74 µg/m³FairForecast
84 µg/m³FairForecast
92 µg/m³FairForecast
97 µg/m³FairForecast
102 µg/m³ModerateForecast
103 µg/m³ModerateForecast
109 µg/m³ModerateForecast
109 µg/m³ModerateForecast
105 µg/m³ModerateForecast
105 µg/m³ModerateForecast
103 µg/m³ModerateForecast
96 µg/m³FairForecast
90 µg/m³FairForecast
83 µg/m³FairForecast
77 µg/m³FairForecast
75 µg/m³FairForecast
74 µg/m³FairForecast
78 µg/m³FairForecast
79 µg/m³FairForecast
82 µg/m³FairForecast
83 µg/m³FairForecast
81 µg/m³FairForecast
79 µg/m³FairForecast
76 µg/m³FairForecast
79 µg/m³FairForecast
90 µg/m³FairForecast
96 µg/m³FairForecast
100 µg/m³FairForecast
112 µg/m³ModerateForecast
Lowest measured
0.9 µg/m³
Average of measured hours
69 µg/m³
Highest measured
141 µg/m³
Hours with a measured value
253 of 305

Figures cover directly measured hours only. Modelled and forecast hours are excluded from the minimum, maximum and average. Near-real-time data is published before validation and may be revised or withdrawn by ERA.

Some past hours are modelled too: the feed fills gaps when an instrument does not report. Those points are marked as estimated. All times are shown in Malta time.

How this compares

O₃ — 65 µg/m³

  • Below the EU limit value of 120 µg/m³

    120 µg/m³ over Maximum daily 8-hour mean · Reference: Directive 2008/50/EC Annex VII (target value)

  • Below the EU limit value of 180 µg/m³

    180 µg/m³ over 1 hour · Reference: Directive 2008/50/EC Annex XII (information threshold)

  • Below the EU limit value of 240 µg/m³

    240 µg/m³ over 1 hour · Reference: Directive 2008/50/EC Annex XII (alert threshold)

  • Below the WHO guideline of 100 µg/m³

    100 µg/m³ over Peak season 8-hour · Reference: WHO 2021

EU limit values describe legal compliance over long averaging periods. The index bands above are for communication and are a different thing entirely. WHO guidelines are health-based guidance, not law.

What this means for you

Advice for the current band: Fair

For most people

Outdoor activity remains fine for the general population.

If you are more sensitive

A small number of unusually sensitive people may notice mild symptoms during long outdoor exertion.

Who is more affected, and why
Children
Children breathe more air for their size and spend more time active outdoors, so they take in relatively more of whatever is in the air.
Older adults
Existing heart or lung conditions become more common with age, and these are what air pollution tends to aggravate.
People who are pregnant
Reducing avoidable exposure during raised episodes is a reasonable precaution.
People with asthma
Raised particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone can all trigger symptoms. Keep reliever medication to hand on poor-air days.
People with lung conditions
COPD, bronchitis and similar conditions can flare when levels rise. Plan outdoor activity for cleaner hours where possible.
People with heart conditions
Fine particles are the pollutant most closely linked with cardiovascular effects during raised episodes.
People who work outdoors
Long shifts outdoors mean higher cumulative exposure than a short trip. Take breaks indoors when levels are raised.
People exercising hard outdoors
Hard exercise draws more air deeper into the lungs and often through the mouth, bypassing the nose. Consider rescheduling intense sessions when levels are raised.

Advice here is general and precautionary. Air quality is one factor among many, and staying active remains beneficial. If you have severe or sudden symptoms, seek medical help rather than relying on this page.

maqua.app provides general environmental information and does not replace medical advice or official emergency guidance.

Estimated air-quality outlook

Estimated

Forecast values are model output, not measurements. Modelled estimates from the Copernicus atmosphere service, carried in the same feed.

Prepared at
Based on measurements up to
Published outlook
Wed 29 Jul, 20:00 to Fri 31 Jul, 12:00 (41 hours)

Moderate confidence

  • Looks 20 hours ahead, where the official model becomes less certain.

Highest band expected Fri 31 Jul, 12:00 Highest expected band: Moderate3.6

  • Highest band estimated for this day: Fair

    Estimated · Higher confidence · 4 forecast hours

    Driven by O₃

  • Highest band estimated for this day: Moderate

    Estimated · Moderate confidence · 24 forecast hours

    Driven by O₃

  • Highest band estimated for this day: Moderate

    Estimated · Lower confidence · 13 forecast hours

    Driven by O₃

Why the outlook looks like this

  • Saharan dust alongside a rising particulate forecast

    Mineral dust is forecast over the Maltese Islands, peaking near 40 µg/m³, at the same time as the official forecast shows coarse particulate levels rising. Dust transported from North Africa may contribute to the increase.

    May push levels upModerate confidence –

    Source:Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), via Open-Meteo (Opens in a new window)

What this outlook cannot tell you

  • These are modelled values for St Paul's Bay, not measurements, and may differ from what is later recorded there.
  • The model describes regional conditions. It cannot anticipate a local event such as roadworks, a fire or a fireworks display.
  • Confidence falls the further ahead the outlook reaches.
  • No forecast is published for SO₂ at this station, although the station measures it.

Modelled hourly concentrations from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, published alongside the measurements in the EEA European Air Quality Index dissemination layer and classified with the same European AQI bands maqua.app applies to observations. maqua.app does not model air quality and does not adjust these values.

How the index is calculated

maqua.app provides general environmental information and does not replace medical advice or official emergency guidance.

Explain this reading

Explanations are general information, not medical advice. Every number on this page is calculated by the application itself and is unaffected.

No explanation has been requested. Activate the button to prepare one.

Where this reading comes from

Air-quality data provided by Malta's Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), disseminated via the European Environment Agency (EEA). maqua.app is an independent project and is not operated by, affiliated with, or endorsed by ERA or the EEA.

Each pollutant concentration is rounded to the nearest whole microgram per cubic metre and matched against the published band ranges. The location takes the band of its worst pollutant. A missing value is shown as unavailable and never as zero. Bands are calculated only from pollutants that actually reported.

This is not an official ERA or EEA service. For official statements, consult ERA directly.

Station detail

Station type
TrafficSited beside a busy road, so it records the higher end of local exposure.
Area
Urban
Island
Malta
Altitude
7 m above sea level
Coordinates
35.9448° N, 14.3857° E
Operated by
Environment & Resources Authority (ERA)

Station code: MT00009

All times are shown in Malta time.

All times are shown in Malta time. (Europe/Malta)