Worst air pollution Kabul, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Kabul is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, O3, and PM1 are moderate; PM10 is fair; SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:30 PM (NO2: 51.3/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Kabul is moderate. O3 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:30 PM (NO2: 43.5/100). 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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Kabul's air quality reflects the severe Hindu Kush mountain basin enclosure at 1,791 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary vehicle density, residential wood and coal burning, and minimal industrial regulation generating some of Central Asia's most severe sustained PM2.5. The basin's near-complete mountain enclosure creates catastrophic winter inversions, while windblown dust from the surrounding Afghan arid steppe compounds emissions and Kabul maintains among the world's most severely challenged major capital environments throughout the winter months.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 19:30
AQI:
Moderate
51.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
41.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
21.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
51.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
43.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.1/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
42.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 19:30
AQI:
Moderate
43.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
42.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
43.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.2/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
42.5/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Kabul right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Kabul is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 51.3/100. Pollution peaks around 7:30 PM (NO2: 51.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kabul?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Kabul will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 43.5/100. Pollution peaks around 7:30 PM (NO2: 43.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Kabul?
Air quality in Kabul tends to be worse when road traffic and the surrounding valley traps air close to the ground. Topographic enclosure in the valley lets pollution accumulate rather than clear out. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher.
Are air quality levels in Kabul 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: 20 September 2026 at 14:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
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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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