Worst air pollution Mitchells Plain, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Mitchells Plain is fair. O3 and SO2 are fair; AQI, PM2.5, HCHO, and PM1 are medium; PM10, NO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 47.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Mitchells Plain is fair. PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 53.1/100). 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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Mitchells Plain's air quality reflects its position on the Cape Flats southeast of Cape Town, directly in the path of the southeastern Cape Doctor wind that ironically carries industrial and urban emissions from the Cape Town metropolitan area across the flat Cape Flats toward this large township. The open Cape Flats plain provides wind dispersal on most days, but the prevailing southeasterly direction means Mitchells Plain is consistently downwind of the greater Cape Town urban and industrial emissions corridor.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Medium
47.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
43.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
15.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
15.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
25.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
32.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
45.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
47.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
53.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
47.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
14.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
32.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
51.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
53.1/100
Pollen forecast in Mitchells Plain
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mitchells Plain right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Mitchells Plain is fair. SO2 is the main pollutant at 32.2/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM1: 47.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mitchells Plain?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Mitchells Plain will be similar to today, with SO2 forecast at fair at 32.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 53.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Mitchells Plain?
At Mitchells Plain, occasional poor air quality tends to occur on calm winter days from June to August, when the Cape's usual wind drops off and local emissions can build up overnight around the town. Through spring and summer, the reliable southeasterly wind returns and generally keeps particulate levels low and well dispersed across the wider region.
Are air quality levels in Mitchells Plain 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