Worst air pollution Thaba Nchu, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Thaba Nchu is fair. AQI, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 24.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Thaba Nchu is fair. PM2.5 increases to fair; HCHO increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 26.8/100). 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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Thaba Nchu's air quality reflects the Free State highland position at 1,410 metres near the Lesotho border, with vehicle dust from roads and surrounding maize farming and residential biomass burning contributing the primary local PM10 and PM2.5 sources. The elevated semi-arid Highveld position aids background dispersal on most days, while winter Highveld inversions can concentrate agricultural dust and residential burning emissions across the rural Free State highland plateau.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Fair
24.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
24.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
19.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
23.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
26.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
26.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
21.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.8/100
Pollen forecast in Thaba Nchu
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Thaba Nchu right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Thaba Nchu is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 24.2/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 24.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Thaba Nchu?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Thaba Nchu will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 26.8/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM1: 26.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Thaba Nchu?
At Thaba Nchu, 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 Thaba Nchu 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