Worst air pollution Riebeeckstad - Welkom, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Riebeeckstad is fair. PM1 is fair; AQI and O3 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 45.2/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Riebeeckstad is good. AQI improves to good; O3 decreases to good; PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 18.6/100). 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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Riebeeckstad lies roughly 140 km north-northeast of Bloemfontein. Air quality at Riebeeckstad is shaped by its Highveld plateau setting, where vehicle traffic and gold mining and processing operations are the main local sources of particulate pollution. Dry winter mornings often see temperature inversions trap emissions near the surface, while summer rains and afternoon winds typically improve dispersal conditions. This mirrors what's typical for towns across the wider plateau region.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Medium
45.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
15.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
45.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
21.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Good
18.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.2/100
Other Landmarks in Welkom
Sports venues in Welkom
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Riebeeckstad right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Riebeeckstad is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 21.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 45.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Riebeeckstad?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Riebeeckstad will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.6/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (O3: 18.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Riebeeckstad?
The dry Highveld winter brings the worst air quality to Riebeeckstad, as calm mornings let emissions from gold mining and processing operations linger close to the ground. Once summer rains arrive around November, stronger winds and regular storms typically clear the air across the wider plateau, a seasonal pattern typical of the wider Highveld plateau.
Are air quality levels in Riebeeckstad 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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