Worst air pollution Heilbron, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Heilbron is fair. SO2 and HCHO are fair; AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are medium; PM10, NO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 51.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Heilbron is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; HCHO decreases to good; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 20.6/100). 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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Heilbron lies roughly 270 km northeast of Bloemfontein. Vehicle traffic and maize, sunflower, and grain farming operations together shape most of what happens to air quality at Heilbron, sitting as it does on the open Highveld plateau. Winter's still, cold mornings are when the two combine most noticeably, before summer's stronger winds take over and clear things out. This is roughly what you'd expect anywhere on the open plateau.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00

AQI:

Medium

51.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

40.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

14.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

51.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

22.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

20.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

43.5/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Fair

20.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

8.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

17.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

13.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

14.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

20.6/100

Pollen forecast in Heilbron

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Heilbron right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Heilbron is fair. SO2 is the main pollutant at 22.3/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 51.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Heilbron?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Heilbron will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 20.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 20.6/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Heilbron?

Ask anyone at Heilbron and they'll say winter mornings are when the air is at its worst, as maize, sunflower, and grain farming operations and local traffic emissions sit trapped under a still, cold inversion layer. Spring and summer bring the wind and rain that usually clears things up again. This is a familiar pattern across much of the Highveld.

Are air quality levels in Heilbron 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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