Worst air pollution Polokwane, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Polokwane is moderate. AQI, NO2, and SO2 are moderate; PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 53.8/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Polokwane is moderate. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 49.0/100). 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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Polokwane's air quality reflects its position on the Limpopo central plateau at 1,310 metres, with vehicle traffic on the N1 national road and the surrounding government, mining services, and agricultural operations contributing local sources in this Limpopo provincial capital. Winter Highveld temperature inversions can concentrate vehicle and wood-burning emissions across the plateau, while the elevated position aids background dispersal on windy summer days, and the surrounding bushveld landscape's dust and agricultural burning contribute seasonal PM10 variation.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Moderate
53.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
26.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
7.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
53.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
28.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
53.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
31.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Moderate
49.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
49.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
25.9/100
Pollen forecast in Polokwane
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Polokwane right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Polokwane is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 53.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 53.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Polokwane?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Polokwane will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 49.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 49.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Polokwane?
Air quality at Polokwane is most likely to dip during the dry winter months from May to August, when dust and smoke from seasonal burning can build up on still, windless days across the bushveld. Conditions generally improve from November onward as the summer rains settle dust and wash pollutants from the air throughout the region.
Are air quality levels in Polokwane 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: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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