Worst air pollution Mitchells Plain, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Mitchells Plain is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (HCHO: 16.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Mitchells Plain is fair. AQI worsens to fair; HCHO increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (HCHO: 20.5/100). 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 04:00
AQI:
Good
16.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
16.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
20.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
13.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
3.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.7/100
Pollen forecast in Mitchells Plain
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mitchells Plain right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Mitchells Plain is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 16.8/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 AM (HCHO: 16.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mitchells Plain?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Mitchells Plain will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 20.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (HCHO: 20.5/100).
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.
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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