Worst air pollution Virginia, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Virginia is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 27.3/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Virginia is fair. PM2.5 increases to fair; NO2 increases to fair; SO2 increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 33.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Virginia's air quality in South Africa reflects the Free State Highveld position at 1,323 metres in the gold mining corridor, with vehicle traffic on the N1 and the surrounding Harmony Gold mining operations generating elevated mineral dust PM10 and heavy metal particulates alongside the primary vehicle sources. Winter Highveld temperature inversions concentrate mining dust and vehicle emissions, while the elevated plateau position aids background dispersal on windy summer days.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Fair
27.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
20.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
16.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
14.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
33.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
20.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
5.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
33.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
30.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
14.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
25.1/100
Pollen forecast in Virginia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Virginia right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Virginia is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.3/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 27.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Virginia?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Virginia will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 33.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Virginia?
At Virginia, 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 Virginia 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: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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.
Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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