Worst air pollution Melville - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Melville is poor. AQI, SO2, and HCHO are poor; PM10 is fair; PM2.5, NO2, O3, and PM1 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 69.0/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Melville is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to medium; HCHO decreases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 40.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
At Melville, 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Poor
69.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
52.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
49.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
49.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
69.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
63.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
59.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
40.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
25.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
40.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
24.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
31.6/100
Other Landmarks in Johannesburg
Sports venues in Johannesburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Melville right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Melville is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 69.0/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 69.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Melville?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Melville will be better than today, with PM1 forecast at fair at 31.6/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 40.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Melville?
Melville 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 Melville 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.