Worst air pollution Parkhurst - Johannesburg, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Parkhurst is poor. AQI, SO2, HCHO, and PM1 are poor; PM10 is fair; PM2.5, NO2, and O3 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 75.5/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Parkhurst 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 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 42.1/100). 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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At Parkhurst, 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

75.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

52.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

25.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

52.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

49.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

75.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Poor

63.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

60.4/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Medium

42.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

26.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

32.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

42.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

24.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

32.3/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Parkhurst right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Parkhurst is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 75.5/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 75.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Parkhurst?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Parkhurst will be better than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 32.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 42.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Parkhurst?

Parkhurst 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 Parkhurst 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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