Worst air pollution Katlehong, today and tomorrow

Today (30 August): Air quality in Katlehong is moderate. AQI, O3, and HCHO are moderate; PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 57.2/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Katlehong is moderate. PM2.5 increases to moderate; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 52.3/100). 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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Katlehong's air quality faces serious challenges as part of the East Rand industrial corridor east of Johannesburg, with heavy industry, vehicle traffic on the N3 highway, and residential coal and wood burning in informal settlements generating elevated PM2.5. Winter Highveld inversions concentrate emissions across the low-lying East Rand corridor, and this densely populated township records some of Gauteng's highest residential pollution exposure during the dry season.

Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00

AQI:

Moderate

57.2/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

29.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

4.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Moderate

46.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

7.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

57.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

36.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Moderate

52.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Moderate

42.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

14.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

8.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Moderate

48.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

11.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Moderate

52.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Moderate

46.5/100

Pollen forecast in Katlehong

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Katlehong right now?

On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Katlehong is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 57.2/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (HCHO: 57.2/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Katlehong?

On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Katlehong will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 52.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 52.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Katlehong?

At Katlehong, 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 Katlehong 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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