Worst air pollution Pretoria, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Pretoria is moderate. AQI and SO2 are moderate; PM2.5, NO2, O3, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 49.8/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Pretoria is moderate. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 45.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Pretoria's air quality is significantly impacted by winter air pollution from coal burning in the surrounding Highveld power stations and domestic fires in informal settlements, with the city's enclosed valley topography concentrating emissions during the dry season inversions. Summer rains and thunderstorms provide effective seasonal air washing across the Gauteng plateau.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Moderate
49.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
30.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
33.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
49.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
36.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
37.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Moderate
45.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
28.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
35.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
33.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
33.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
34.7/100
Pollen forecast in Pretoria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Pretoria right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Pretoria is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 49.8/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 49.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Pretoria?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Pretoria will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 45.9/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 45.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Pretoria?
At Pretoria, the poorest air quality usually occurs on still winter mornings from May to August, when smoke and vehicle emissions accumulate under a low temperature inversion typical of the Highveld plateau. From November onward, summer rains and afternoon winds generally restore clearer conditions that last through much of the warmer part of the year.
Are air quality levels in Pretoria 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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