Worst air pollution Sonheuvel - Nelspruit, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Sonheuvel is fair. PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are fair; AQI, O3, and SO2 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (SO2: 49.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Sonheuvel is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 41.6/100). 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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Air quality at Sonheuvel is generally shaped by its bushveld surroundings, where vehicle traffic and sugarcane, timber, and tourism operations are the main local sources of particulate pollution. Calm, dry winter conditions can allow dust and smoke to linger, while summer rains and stronger winds typically restore clearer conditions. This mirrors what's typical for towns across the wider savanna region.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 13:00
AQI:
Medium
49.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
31.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
40.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
49.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
27.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Medium
41.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
41.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.8/100
Other Landmarks in Nelspruit
Sports venues in Nelspruit
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sonheuvel right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Sonheuvel is fair. NO2 is the main pollutant at 31.5/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (SO2: 49.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sonheuvel?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Sonheuvel will be similar to today, with NO2 forecast at fair at 29.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 41.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sonheuvel?
Dry winter conditions bring the worst air quality to Sonheuvel, as smoke and dust tied to sugarcane, timber, and tourism operations linger without rain to settle them. Once summer arrives around November, regular thunderstorms and stronger winds generally restore clearer conditions across the surrounding bushveld, a seasonal pattern typical of the broader bushveld region.
Are air quality levels in Sonheuvel 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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