Worst air pollution Ermelo, today and tomorrow

Today (20 September): Air quality in Ermelo is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (PM1: 37.2/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Ermelo is moderate. AQI worsens to moderate; PM2.5 increases to moderate; PM10 increases to fair; NO2 increases to moderate; SO2 increases to moderate; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM1: 48.3/100). 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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Ermelo's air quality reflects the Mpumalanga Highveld position at 1,612 metres near the Vaal Dam, with vehicle traffic on the N17 and surrounding agricultural operations contributing local sources. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and residential emissions, while the proximity to the Mpumalanga coal-fired power station corridor — including the Duvha and Kendal stations — elevates regional background SO₂ and PM2.5 significantly above typical South African non-industrial levels.

Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 20:00

AQI:

Fair

37.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

23.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

28.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

21.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

12.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.8/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

37.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 18:00

AQI:

Moderate

48.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

42.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

24.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Moderate

43.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

27.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Moderate

43.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.8/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

48.3/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Ermelo right now?

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Ermelo is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.2/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (PM1: 37.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ermelo?

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Ermelo will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 48.3/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 PM (PM1: 48.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Ermelo?

At Ermelo, 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 Ermelo 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: 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.

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