Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve, Harrismith Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (11 October): Air quality in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; PM2.5 and PM1 are moderate; PM10 is fair; NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 60.8/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (12 October 2026): Air quality in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is poor. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 62.0/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 11 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 60.8/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 47.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 23.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 10.1/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Poor | 60.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 19.3/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.8/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 8.1/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Moderate | 48.8/100 |
Tomorrow - 12 October
| Pollutant | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Poor | 62.0/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Moderate | 47.8/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 24.1/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 10.0/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Poor | 62.0/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 18.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.9/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 9.4/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Moderate | 49.4/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this site in Harrismith, traffic is light and there are few concentrated sources of air pollution. Open grassland and scrub can produce smoke during grass fires and some dust in dry spells. Open water nearby lets breezes move freely across the area, helping to disperse pollutants. Air arriving from elsewhere in the region adds to what is produced locally.
Cold spells from June to August, at around 5°C on average, are when smoke from wood burning and traffic lingers longest. In the warmer months, summers are mild, averaging around 17°C in the warmest month, so ozone usually stays moderate even from December to February. On the plus side, breezy weather in July, with winds near 15 km/h, tends to sweep pollution away.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Free State
Is air quality bad in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve right now?
On 11 October 2026, overall air quality in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 60.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 60.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve?
On 12 October 2026, air quality conditions in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 62.0/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 62.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve?
Cold spells from June to August, at around 5°C on average, are when smoke from wood burning and traffic lingers longest. In the warmer months, summers are mild, averaging around 17°C in the warmest month, so ozone usually stays moderate even from December to February. On the plus side, breezy weather in July, with winds near 15 km/h, tends to sweep pollution away.
Are air quality levels in Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |