Worst air pollution Middelburg, today and tomorrow

Today (20 September): Air quality in Middelburg is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are moderate; NO2 and O3 are fair; PM10, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 41.8/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Middelburg is poor. AQI worsens to poor; PM10 increases to fair; NO2 increases to poor; SO2 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (NO2: 71.1/100). 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.

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 - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Moderate

41.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

40.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

15.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

28.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

6.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.8/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

41.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Poor

71.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

44.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

21.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

71.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

22.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Moderate

42.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.9/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

47.6/100

Pollen forecast in Middelburg

View pollen forecast

Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Middelburg

Sports venues in Middelburg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Middelburg right now?

On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Middelburg is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 41.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Middelburg?

On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Middelburg will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 71.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (NO2: 71.1/100).

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.

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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 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.

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.

Get the full experience in the Airmine app.