Worst air pollution Mhluzi - Middelburg, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Mhluzi is fair. PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 41.7/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Mhluzi is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 increases to fair; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 33.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Mhluzi lies roughly 160 km west-southwest of Nelspruit. Air quality at Mhluzi is shaped by its Highveld plateau setting, where vehicle traffic and coal mining and power station operations are the main local sources of particulate pollution. Dry winter mornings often see temperature inversions trap emissions near the surface, while summer rains and afternoon winds typically improve dispersal conditions. This mirrors what's typical for towns across the wider plateau region.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Medium

41.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

20.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

7.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

41.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

14.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

26.6/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00

AQI:

Fair

33.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

14.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

4.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

7.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

4.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

20.0/100

Other Landmarks in Middelburg

Sports venues in Middelburg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Mhluzi right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Mhluzi is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 26.6/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 41.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mhluzi?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Mhluzi will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.7/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (O3: 33.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Mhluzi?

The dry Highveld winter brings the worst air quality to Mhluzi, as calm mornings let emissions from coal mining and power station operations linger close to the ground. Once summer rains arrive around November, stronger winds and regular storms typically clear the air across the wider plateau, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.

Are air quality levels in Mhluzi 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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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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