Worst air pollution Centurion, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Centurion is very poor. AQI, SO2, and PM1 are very poor; PM2.5, NO2, and HCHO are poor; O3 is fair; PM10 is medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Centurion is very poor. PM2.5 increases to very poor; NO2 increases to very poor; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 100/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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

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Centurion's air quality reflects its position in the Tshwane metropolitan area between Pretoria and Johannesburg, with vehicle traffic on the N1 and N14 motorways and the surrounding government and technology corridor contributing elevated NOₓ. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and residential heating emissions across the plateau, while the elevated 1,321-metre position aids background dispersal on windy days. Centurion's relatively affluent residential character keeps it below the most industrialised parts of the Pretoria-Johannesburg corridor.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Very poor

100/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Poor

76.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Medium

43.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

74.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

31.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Very poor

100/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.1/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Poor

69.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Very poor

89.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Very poor

100/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Very poor

83.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Medium

46.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Very poor

100/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

41.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Very poor

100/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.1/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Poor

76.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Very poor

98.8/100

Pollen forecast in Centurion

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Centurion right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Centurion is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Centurion?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Centurion will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (NO2: 100/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Centurion?

Air quality at Centurion 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 Centurion 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.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app