Worst air pollution Benoni, today and tomorrow

Today (20 September): Air quality in Benoni is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are moderate; PM10, O3, SO2, and HCHO are fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 52.8/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Benoni is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; PM2.5 increases to very poor; PM10 increases to moderate; NO2 increases to very poor; SO2 increases to moderate; HCHO increases to moderate; PM1 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 85.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

Get the full experience in the Airmine app.

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.

Benoni's air quality reflects its position in the East Rand industrial corridor east of Johannesburg, with vehicle traffic on the N12 and the surrounding manufacturing and mining legacy operations contributing elevated PM2.5 alongside the broader East Rand industrial background. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and industrial emissions across the East Rand plateau, while the elevated 1,620-metre position aids background dispersal on windy summer days, and Benoni's manufacturing character maintains readings above the cleaner northern Johannesburg residential suburbs throughout the year.

Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 19:00

AQI:

Moderate

52.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

46.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

23.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

52.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

25.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

33.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

1.4/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

30.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

46.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 19:00

AQI:

Very poor

85.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Very poor

80.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Moderate

50.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Very poor

85.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

32.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Moderate

50.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

3.5/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

54.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Very poor

83.0/100

Pollen forecast in Benoni

View pollen forecast

Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Benoni

Sports venues in Benoni

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Benoni right now?

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Benoni is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 52.8/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 52.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Benoni?

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Benoni will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 85.0/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 85.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Benoni?

Air quality at Benoni is most likely to dip during the dry winter months from May to August, when temperature inversions trap vehicle and household emissions close to the ground on still mornings. Conditions improve markedly once the summer rains arrive from November, as stronger winds and regular thunderstorms clear the plateau air for the rest of the season.

Are air quality levels in Benoni based on measurements or forecasts?

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?

Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.

During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.

Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?

Check air quality in other popular cities:

Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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 responsibility.

Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.

Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Get the full experience in the Airmine app.