Worst air pollution Midmar Dam Nature Reserve - Howick, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is poor. AQI and O3 are poor; NO2 and HCHO are fair; PM2.5, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 64.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; NO2 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; HCHO decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 15.2/100). 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Poor
64.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Poor
64.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
42.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
15.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
3.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
7.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.4/100
Other Landmarks in Howick
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 64.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 64.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Midmar Dam Nature Reserve will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 15.2/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 15.2/100).
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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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