Worst air pollution Gold Reef City - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Gold Reef City is very poor. AQI, NO2, and PM1 are very poor; PM2.5 is poor; PM10, SO2, and HCHO are moderate; O3 is fair; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 82.2/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Gold Reef City is very poor. HCHO increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 100/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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The Highveld plateau setting around Gold Reef City 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 - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Very poor
82.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
61.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
45.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
81.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
36.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
53.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
82.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
77.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
55.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
35.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
54.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
4.2/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
62.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
100/100
Other Landmarks in Johannesburg
Sports venues in Johannesburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Gold Reef City right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Gold Reef City is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 82.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 82.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Gold Reef City?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Gold Reef City will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Gold Reef City?
Air quality at Gold Reef City 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 Gold Reef City 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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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