Worst air pollution Craighall - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Craighall is very poor. AQI and SO2 are very poor; PM2.5, HCHO, and PM1 are poor; PM10 is fair; NO2 and O3 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 84.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Craighall is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 decreases to fair; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to medium; HCHO decreases to fair; PM1 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 42.4/100). 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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The Highveld plateau setting around Craighall means vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations are never far from the air quality picture, particularly once winter's still mornings set in. From spring onward, wind and rain reliably take over the job of clearing the air. Nearby towns on the plateau tend to see similar conditions.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00

AQI:

Very poor

84.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Poor

62.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

35.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

58.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

59.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Very poor

84.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Poor

68.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

72.3/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Medium

42.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

29.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

30.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

42.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

26.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

36.6/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Craighall right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Craighall is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 84.2/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 84.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Craighall?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Craighall will be better than today, with PM1 forecast at fair at 36.6/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 42.4/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Craighall?

Air quality at Craighall is most likely to dip during the dry winter months from May to August, when temperature inversions trap emissions from government, finance, and commercial operations close to the ground on still mornings. Conditions improve markedly once summer rains arrive from November, as stronger winds clear the plateau air, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.

Are air quality levels in Craighall 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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