Worst air pollution Midrand, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Midrand is very poor. AQI and SO2 are very poor; HCHO and PM1 are poor; PM10 is fair; PM2.5, NO2, and O3 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 84.9/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Midrand is fair. AQI improves to medium; PM2.5 increases to fair; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 increases to fair; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to medium; HCHO decreases to fair; PM1 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 44.4/100). 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Very poor
84.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
53.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
26.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
58.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
49.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
84.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
63.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
61.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Medium
44.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
27.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
44.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
24.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
33.4/100
Pollen forecast in Midrand
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Midrand
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Midrand right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Midrand is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 84.9/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 84.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Midrand?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Midrand will be better than today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 38.4/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (SO2: 44.4/100).
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.
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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