Worst air pollution Bophelong - Vanderbijlpark, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Bophelong is fair. HCHO is fair; AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are medium; PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 57.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Bophelong is fair. AQI worsens to fair; PM2.5 decreases to good; O3 decreases to good; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (HCHO: 21.3/100). 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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Bophelong lies roughly 60 km south-southwest of Johannesburg. At Bophelong, vehicle traffic and government, finance, and commercial operations are the dominant local sources shaping air quality on the Highveld plateau. Calm winter mornings allow emissions to build up under a low inversion layer, while the arrival of summer rains and stronger winds generally restores clearer conditions. Similar patterns show up in most Highveld towns of a similar size.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00

AQI:

Medium

57.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

46.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

19.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Medium

57.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

39.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

52.3/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 06:00

AQI:

Fair

21.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

15.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

21.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

21.0/100

Other Landmarks in Vanderbijlpark

Sports venues in Vanderbijlpark

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Bophelong right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Bophelong is fair. HCHO is the main pollutant at 39.6/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 57.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Bophelong?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Bophelong will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 21.3/100. Pollution peaks around 6:00 AM (HCHO: 21.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Bophelong?

Bophelong sees its poorest air quality on windless winter mornings, when a low temperature inversion traps local emissions and those from government, finance, and commercial operations nearby. Summer's arrival from November brings stronger winds and thunderstorms that usually restore clearer conditions for months at a time, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.

Are air quality levels in Bophelong 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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