Worst air pollution Upington, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Upington is fair. AQI, NO2, O3, and SO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 23.1/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Upington is fair. NO2 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100). 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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Upington's air quality reflects the Northern Cape's flat Kalahari Desert position at 848 metres on the Orange River, with vehicle traffic on the N14 and surrounding irrigation farming operations in the lower Orange Valley contributing local sources. The open semi-arid Karoo and Kalahari landscape generally allows excellent wind dispersal on most days, while seasonal dust from the surrounding Kalahari sandy soils contributes elevated PM10 during dry windy periods throughout the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
23.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
23.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Fair
20.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
19.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
16.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
8.8/100
Pollen forecast in Upington
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Upington right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Upington is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 23.1/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (SO2: 23.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Upington?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Upington will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 20.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Upington?
Air quality at Upington stays good for most of the year given the region's remoteness and sparse population, though dry, windy spells in late winter and spring can occasionally stir up dust from the surrounding arid landscape. Conditions generally settle again once the wind drops or the brief rainy season arrives across the wider Karoo.
Are air quality levels in Upington 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