Worst air pollution Sandstone Estates - Ficksburg, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Sandstone Estates is fair. NO2 and SO2 are fair; AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 49.5/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Sandstone Estates is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 decreases to good; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 31.6/100). 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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Sandstone Estates lies roughly 170 km east of Bloemfontein. Sandstone Estates deals with the same basic air quality drivers as most Highveld towns: vehicle traffic and maize, sunflower, and grain farming operations, both of which matter most on calm winter mornings when a low inversion holds emissions close to the ground. Summer generally undoes this with stronger, more consistent winds. The wider Highveld region generally follows this same rough pattern.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Medium
49.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
43.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
15.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
49.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
22.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
47.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
31.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
31.6/100
Other Landmarks in Ficksburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sandstone Estates right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Sandstone Estates is fair. SO2 is the main pollutant at 22.1/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 49.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sandstone Estates?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Sandstone Estates will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 31.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sandstone Estates?
Winter is the tricky season for air quality at Sandstone Estates, with calm mornings letting emissions from maize, sunflower, and grain farming operations build up under a typical Highveld inversion. Once the rainy season starts around November, conditions generally improve and stay that way into early autumn. This is a familiar pattern across much of the Highveld.
Are air quality levels in Sandstone Estates 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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