Worst air pollution Randfontein, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Randfontein is very poor. AQI and SO2 are very poor; NO2 is poor; PM10 and HCHO are fair; PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 94.3/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Randfontein is poor. AQI improves to poor; PM10 decreases to good; O3 increases to fair; SO2 decreases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 63.1/100). 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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Randfontein's air quality reflects the West Rand gold mining corridor west of Johannesburg, with gold mine dust from the surrounding West Rand tailings dumps and vehicle traffic on the N14 generating elevated heavy metal particulates. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate mining dust and vehicle emissions across the plateau, while the elevated 1,700-metre position aids background dispersal on windy summer days and the gold mine legacy dust represents the most distinctive local PM10 source.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00

AQI:

Very poor

94.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

49.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

22.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

64.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

42.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Very poor

94.3/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

32.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

56.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00

AQI:

Poor

63.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

40.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Poor

63.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

23.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Poor

63.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

21.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

42.6/100

Pollen forecast in Randfontein

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Sports venues in Randfontein

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Randfontein right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Randfontein is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 94.3/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (SO2: 94.3/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Randfontein?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Randfontein will be better than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 63.1/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 63.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Randfontein?

At Randfontein, 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 Randfontein 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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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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