Worst air pollution Smithfield, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Smithfield is fair. PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; AQI and SO2 are medium; PM10, NO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 43.8/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Smithfield is good. AQI improves to good; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.1/100). 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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Smithfield lies roughly 120 km south-southeast of Bloemfontein. Smithfield's position on the open Highveld plateau means vehicle traffic and maize, sunflower, and grain farming 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 - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00

AQI:

Medium

43.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

24.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

6.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

13.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

36.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Medium

43.8/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

31.1/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Good

17.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

3.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

1.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

9.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

17.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

5.2/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

4.2/100

Pollen forecast in Smithfield

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Smithfield right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Smithfield is fair. O3 is the main pollutant at 36.2/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 43.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Smithfield?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Smithfield will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.1/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Smithfield?

Winter is when air quality dips most at Smithfield, as still mornings allow emissions from maize, sunflower, and grain farming 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 Smithfield 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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