Worst air pollution Karbalā’, today and tomorrow
Today (22 September): Air quality in Karbalā’ is very poor. AQI and PM10 are very poor; PM2.5, NO2, and PM1 are moderate; SO2 is fair; O3, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM10: 91.5/100).
Tomorrow (23 September 2026): Air quality in Karbalā’ is very poor. PM2.5 increases to very poor; NO2 decreases to good; SO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM10: 100/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Karbalā'ʼs air quality reflects the flat Iraqi Euphrates River holy city position at 29 metres, with vehicle density and the extraordinary Shia pilgrimage traffic, construction, and conflict-legacy corridor generating elevated PM2.5. Shamal Desert dust generates elevated PM10, while the extraordinary pilgrimage vehicle concentration during Arbaeen — the world's largest annual gathering — represents the most distinctive periodic air quality event throughout the year.
Today - 22 September | Pollution peaks at 17:00
AQI:
Very poor
91.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
52.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Very poor
91.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
45.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
25.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
12.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
46.8/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 23 September | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Very poor
100/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Very poor
80.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Very poor
100/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
19.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.7/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
41.6/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Karbalā’ right now?
On 22 September 2026, overall air quality in Karbalā’ is very poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 91.5/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (PM10: 91.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Karbalā’?
On 23 September 2026, air quality conditions in Karbalā’ will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 100/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM10: 100/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Karbalā’?
Pollution in Karbalā’ typically rises when vehicle traffic as well as ongoing construction work combine, especially once windblown dust events occur. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. Such events are most common in the drier shoulder seasons.
Are air quality levels in Karbalā’ 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.
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 22 September 2026 at 20:32 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.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.