Worst air pollution Midmar Dam Nature Reserve - Howick, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 31.4/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; HCHO increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 37.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Midmar Dam Nature Reserve lies roughly 90 km west-northwest of Durban. Midmar Dam Nature Reserve's air quality reflects its inland KwaZulu-Natal Midlands setting, with vehicle traffic and dairy and forestry farming operations as the main local sources of pollution. The area's cooler, elevated climate can allow winter morning inversions to briefly concentrate emissions, while summer rains generally restore clearer conditions. Conditions like these are common across the wider Midlands region.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Fair
31.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
19.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
27.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
17.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
27.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
37.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
26.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
37.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
35.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.0/100
Other Landmarks in Howick
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 31.4/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 31.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 37.3/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 37.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve?
At Midmar Dam Nature Reserve, winter mornings tend to bring the poorest air quality, as the cooler, drier Midlands climate favours brief inversions that trap emissions from dairy and forestry farming operations near the surface. From spring through summer, rainfall and stronger winds typically restore clearer conditions, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Midlands region.
Are air quality levels in Midmar 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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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