Worst air pollution Machadodorp, today and tomorrow

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Machadodorp is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 39.7/100).

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Machadodorp will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 26.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 26.1/100).

At Machadodorp, the poorest air quality usually occurs on still winter mornings, when smoke and emissions from maize, sunflower, and grain farming operations accumulate under a low inversion typical of the Highveld. From November, summer rains and afternoon winds generally restore clearer conditions for the rest of the year, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.

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.

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.