Worst air pollution Midrand, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Midrand is very poor. AQI, SO2, and PM1 are very poor; PM2.5 and HCHO are poor; O3 is fair; PM10 and NO2 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 100/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Midrand is very poor. NO2 increases to poor; O3 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 100/100). 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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Midrand's air quality reflects the Highveld plateau between Johannesburg and Pretoria, with vehicle traffic on the N1 national road and the surrounding technology and logistics corridor contributing concentrated commuter NOₓ. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and residential emissions across the plateau, while the elevated 1,534-metre position aids background dispersal on the frequent windy summer days of the Gauteng thunderstorm season.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
70.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Medium
41.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
57.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
69.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
83.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
78.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Medium
43.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
79.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
41.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
76.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
91.7/100
Pollen forecast in Midrand
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Midrand right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Midrand is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 100/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Midrand?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Midrand will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Midrand?
Air quality at Midrand is most likely to dip during the dry winter months from May to August, when temperature inversions trap vehicle and household emissions close to the ground on still mornings. Conditions improve markedly once the summer rains arrive from November, as stronger winds and regular thunderstorms clear the plateau air for the rest of the season.
Are air quality levels in Midrand 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