Worst air pollution Voortrekker Monument - Pretoria, today and tomorrow

Today (30 August): Air quality in Voortrekker Monument is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, O3, SO2, HCHO, and PM1 are fair; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 39.7/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Voortrekker Monument is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (HCHO: 33.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Voortrekker Monument lies roughly 50 km north-northeast of Johannesburg. Voortrekker Monument's position on the open Highveld plateau means vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations drive most local emissions, with winter inversions occasionally trapping pollution close to the ground. Summer brings stronger winds and regular thunderstorms that generally keep particulate levels lower across the surrounding area. It's a fairly standard picture for this part of the plateau.

Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Fair

39.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

26.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.4/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

21.8/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

39.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

36.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

32.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Fair

33.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

24.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

20.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

33.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

31.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

33.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

30.1/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Voortrekker Monument right now?

On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Voortrekker Monument is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 39.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 39.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Voortrekker Monument?

On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Voortrekker Monument will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (HCHO: 33.6/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Voortrekker Monument?

Winter is when air quality dips most at Voortrekker Monument, as still mornings allow emissions from government, finance, and commercial operations to concentrate under a Highveld inversion layer. From spring onward, increasing rain and wind generally keep conditions clearer through summer and into early autumn, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.

Are air quality levels in Voortrekker Monument 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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