Worst air pollution Sandton, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Sandton is very poor. AQI and SO2 are very poor; PM2.5, HCHO, and PM1 are poor; PM10 and O3 are fair; NO2 is medium; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 100/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Sandton is very poor. PM10 decreases to medium; NO2 increases to poor; O3 decreases to medium; PM1 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 100/100). 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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Sandton's air quality reflects its position as Johannesburg's financial centre on the Highveld plateau, with vehicle traffic on the N1 and Grayston Drive corridor and the concentrated commercial and hotel district generating elevated NOₓ in one of Africa's most affluent business districts. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate vehicle and residential wood-burning emissions across the plateau, while the elevated 1,645-metre position aids background dispersal on the windy summer days that characterise Gauteng's afternoon thunderstorm season.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
67.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
39.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
45.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
31.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
69.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
79.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
73.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Medium
42.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
60.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
41.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Very poor
100/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
76.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
87.2/100
Pollen forecast in Sandton
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sandton right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Sandton is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 100/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sandton?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Sandton will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sandton?
At Sandton, 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 Sandton 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