Worst air pollution Valley of Desolation - Graaff-Reinet, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Valley of Desolation is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are moderate; PM10 and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM2.5: 47.2/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Valley of Desolation is moderate. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM2.5: 44.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Valley of Desolation lies roughly 210 km north-northwest of Gqeberha. Valley of Desolation's sparsely populated Karoo location means vehicle traffic and sheep and ostrich farming operations are the main local pollution sources, though the region's open landscape and frequent winds usually disperse them quickly. Windblown dust remains the main occasional exception during very dry spells. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the interior.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Moderate
47.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
47.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
24.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
45.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Moderate
44.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
44.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.9/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
43.1/100
Other Landmarks in Graaff-Reinet
Sports venues in Graaff-Reinet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Valley of Desolation right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Valley of Desolation is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 47.2/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (PM2.5: 47.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Valley of Desolation?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Valley of Desolation will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 44.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM2.5: 44.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Valley of Desolation?
Windblown dust during late winter and spring is the main disruption to otherwise clean air at Valley of Desolation, tied partly to sheep and ostrich farming operations in the surrounding district. For most of the year, the region's remote, open setting keeps conditions consistently favourable, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Karoo interior.
Are air quality levels in Valley of Desolation 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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