Worst air pollution Sunnyside - Pretoria, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Sunnyside is very poor. AQI, NO2, and SO2 are very poor; PM1 is poor; PM10 and O3 are fair; PM2.5 and HCHO are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Sunnyside is poor. AQI improves to poor; PM10 decreases to good; NO2 decreases to poor; SO2 decreases to poor; HCHO increases to fair; PM1 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 78.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Sunnyside lies roughly 50 km north-northeast of Johannesburg. The Highveld plateau setting around Sunnyside means vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations are never far from the air quality picture, particularly once winter's still mornings set in. From spring onward, wind and rain reliably take over the job of clearing the air. Nearby towns on the plateau tend to see similar conditions.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
52.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Very poor
82.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
38.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
42.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
60.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Poor
78.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
40.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
71.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
78.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
23.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
42.5/100
Other Landmarks in Pretoria
Sports venues in Pretoria
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sunnyside right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Sunnyside is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sunnyside?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Sunnyside will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 78.6/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (SO2: 78.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sunnyside?
Air quality at Sunnyside is most likely to dip during the dry winter months from May to August, when temperature inversions trap emissions from government, finance, and commercial operations close to the ground on still mornings. Conditions improve markedly once summer rains arrive from November, as stronger winds clear the plateau air, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.
Are air quality levels in Sunnyside 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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