Worst air pollution Ferndale - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Ferndale is moderate. AQI, NO2, O3, SO2, HCHO, and PM1 are moderate; PM2.5 is fair; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 57.2/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Ferndale is poor. AQI worsens to poor; PM2.5 increases to moderate; NO2 increases to poor; SO2 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 66.8/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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At Ferndale, vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations are the dominant local sources shaping air quality on the Highveld plateau. Calm winter mornings allow emissions to build up under a low inversion layer, while the arrival of summer rains and stronger winds generally restores clearer conditions. Similar patterns show up in most Highveld towns of a similar size.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Moderate
57.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
38.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
43.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
46.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
52.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
57.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
41.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Poor
66.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
46.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
19.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
60.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
48.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
66.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
52.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
51.4/100
Other Landmarks in Johannesburg
Sports venues in Johannesburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ferndale right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Ferndale is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 57.2/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 57.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ferndale?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Ferndale will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 66.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 66.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ferndale?
Ferndale sees its poorest air quality on windless winter mornings, when a low temperature inversion traps local emissions and those from government, finance, and commercial operations nearby. Summer's arrival from November brings stronger winds and thunderstorms that usually restore clearer conditions for months at a time, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.
Are air quality levels in Ferndale 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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