Worst air pollution Middelburg, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Middelburg is poor. AQI and SO2 are poor; PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; NO2 is medium; PM10, O3, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (SO2: 75.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Middelburg is poor. PM2.5 decreases to medium; O3 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (SO2: 76.7/100). 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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Middelburg's air quality reflects the Mpumalanga Highveld coal region at around 1,500 metres, with vehicle traffic on the N4 and N11 and the surrounding coal mining and Steel Valley industrial operations, including the Columbus Stainless steelworks, generating elevated PM2.5 and SO₂. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate emissions across the plateau, while summer thunderstorms and stronger winds generally aid dispersal.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Poor

75.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

26.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

56.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

17.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

75.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

33.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00

AQI:

Poor

76.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

41.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

54.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

22.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

76.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

9.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

44.3/100

Pollen forecast in Middelburg

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Middelburg right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Middelburg is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 75.2/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (SO2: 75.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Middelburg?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Middelburg will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 76.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (SO2: 76.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Middelburg?

At Middelburg, the poorest air quality usually occurs on still winter mornings from May to August, when smoke and vehicle emissions accumulate under a low temperature inversion typical of the Highveld plateau. From November onward, summer rains and afternoon winds generally restore clearer conditions that last through much of the warmer part of the year.

Are air quality levels in Middelburg 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.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app