Worst air pollution Elim, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Elim is fair. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM2.5: 37.3/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Elim is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM2.5: 28.5/100). 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.
Elim lies roughly 80 km east-northeast of Polokwane. At Elim, vehicle traffic and citrus and subtropical farming operations drive most of the local emissions picture in this bushveld setting. Dry winter days can see dust and smoke accumulate under still conditions, while the onset of summer rains generally clears the air across the wider savanna. Similar patterns show up in most bushveld towns of a similar size.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
37.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
37.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
30.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
28.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
28.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
9.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
13.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
23.9/100
Pollen forecast in Elim
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Elim right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Elim is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM2.5: 37.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Elim?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Elim will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 28.5/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM2.5: 28.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Elim?
Elim's poorest air quality typically comes in the dry winter season, when dust from citrus and subtropical farming operations builds up on calm days across the surrounding savanna. From November, the summer rains usually clear the air and keep conditions favourable for the rest of the season, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader bushveld region.
Are air quality levels in Elim 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.