Worst air pollution Katlehong, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Katlehong is poor. AQI and PM1 are poor; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, and HCHO are moderate; CO is good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 73.0/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Katlehong is very poor. AQI worsens to very poor; PM2.5 increases to poor; NO2 increases to poor; HCHO increases to poor; PM1 increases to very poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 92.8/100). 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 - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
73.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
58.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
45.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
51.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
44.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
45.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
2.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Moderate
53.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
73.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Very poor
92.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Poor
73.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Moderate
55.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Poor
69.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
42.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Moderate
54.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
4.2/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Poor
62.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Very poor
92.8/100
Pollen forecast in Katlehong
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Katlehong right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Katlehong is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 73.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 73.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Katlehong?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Katlehong will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at very poor at 92.8/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM1: 92.8/100).
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: 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.
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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