Worst air pollution Centurion, today and tomorrow

Today (30 August): Air quality in Centurion is poor. AQI and SO2 are poor; NO2, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are moderate; PM2.5 is fair; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (SO2: 69.5/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Centurion is poor. NO2 increases to poor; O3 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 63.2/100). 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 - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00

AQI:

Poor

69.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

36.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

10.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

48.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Moderate

41.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

69.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

55.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

41.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Poor

63.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

36.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

10.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

61.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

36.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

63.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

44.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

41.0/100

Pollen forecast in Centurion

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Centurion

Sports venues in Centurion

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Centurion right now?

On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Centurion is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 69.5/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (SO2: 69.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Centurion?

On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Centurion will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 63.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 63.2/100).

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.

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: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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.

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