Worst air pollution Northriding - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Northriding is moderate. AQI, O3, and HCHO are moderate; PM2.5, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 51.5/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Northriding is moderate. PM2.5 increases to moderate; NO2 increases to fair; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 55.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Northriding lies roughly 10 km southwest of Johannesburg. Northriding's position on the open Highveld plateau means vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations drive most local emissions, with winter inversions occasionally trapping pollution close to the ground. Summer brings stronger winds and regular thunderstorms that generally keep particulate levels lower across the surrounding area. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the plateau.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Moderate
51.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
31.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
13.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
40.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
21.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
51.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
38.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
55.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
44.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
17.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
25.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
51.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
38.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
55.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
49.2/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Northriding right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Northriding is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 51.5/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 51.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Northriding?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Northriding will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 55.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 55.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Northriding?
Winter is when air quality dips most at Northriding, as still mornings allow emissions from government, finance, and commercial operations to concentrate under a Highveld inversion layer. From spring onward, increasing rain and wind generally keep conditions clearer through summer and into early autumn, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.
Are air quality levels in Northriding 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 20:26 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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