Worst air pollution Brakpan, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Brakpan is poor. AQI, O3, and SO2 are poor; PM10 is fair; PM2.5, NO2, HCHO, and PM1 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 65.1/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Brakpan is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 decreases to good; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; O3 decreases to fair; SO2 decreases to medium; HCHO increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 40.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Brakpan's air quality reflects the East Rand industrial corridor east of Johannesburg, with vehicle traffic on the N12 and surrounding gold mining legacy and light industrial operations generating elevated PM2.5 and heavy metals. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and mining dust emissions across the East Rand plateau, while the elevated 1,600-metre position aids background dispersal on the frequent windy summer days of the Gauteng thunderstorm season.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Poor
65.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
49.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
22.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
50.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
64.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
65.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
52.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
55.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Medium
40.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
18.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
40.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
23.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
24.1/100
Pollen forecast in Brakpan
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Brakpan right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Brakpan is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 65.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 65.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Brakpan?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Brakpan will be better than today, with PM1 forecast at fair at 24.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 40.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Brakpan?
At Brakpan, the poorest air quality usually occurs on still winter mornings from May to August, when smoke and vehicle emissions accumulate under a low temperature inversion typical of the Highveld plateau. From November onward, summer rains and afternoon winds generally restore clearer conditions that last through much of the warmer part of the year.
Are air quality levels in Brakpan 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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