Worst air pollution Polokwane, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Polokwane is very poor. AQI and SO2 are very poor; NO2 is poor; O3 is fair; PM2.5 and PM1 are medium; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 96.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Polokwane is poor. AQI improves to poor; NO2 decreases to medium; SO2 decreases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 75.9/100). 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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Very poor
96.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
62.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
96.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
43.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
75.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
11.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
53.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
38.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
75.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.7/100
Pollen forecast in Polokwane
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Polokwane right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Polokwane is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 96.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (SO2: 96.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Polokwane?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Polokwane will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 75.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 75.9/100).
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.
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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