Worst air pollution Orkney, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Orkney is fair. PM2.5, O3, and HCHO are fair; AQI, NO2, SO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 50.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Orkney is fair. PM2.5 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 53.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.
Orkney lies roughly 160 km southeast of Mahikeng. Air quality at Orkney is shaped by its Highveld plateau setting, where vehicle traffic and gold mining and processing operations are the main local sources of particulate pollution. Dry winter mornings often see temperature inversions trap emissions near the surface, while summer rains and afternoon winds typically improve dispersal conditions. This mirrors what's typical for towns across the wider plateau region.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Medium
50.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
38.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
50.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.2/100
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
41.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
13.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
46.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Medium
53.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
44.7/100
Pollen forecast in Orkney
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Orkney right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Orkney is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 38.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 50.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Orkney?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Orkney will be similar to today, with O3 forecast at fair at 30.7/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 53.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Orkney?
The dry Highveld winter brings the worst air quality to Orkney, as calm mornings let emissions from gold mining and processing operations linger close to the ground. Once summer rains arrive around November, stronger winds and regular storms typically clear the air across the wider plateau, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.
Are air quality levels in Orkney 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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