Worst air pollution Katlehong, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Katlehong is fair. PM10, O3, and SO2 are fair; AQI, PM2.5, HCHO, and PM1 are medium; NO2 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 56.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Katlehong is poor. AQI worsens to poor; HCHO increases to poor; PM1 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (HCHO: 64.7/100). 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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

56.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

48.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

21.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

6.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

24.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

22.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Medium

56.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

55.4/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 02:00

AQI:

Poor

64.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Medium

55.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Fair

28.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

9.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

30.2/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

25.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Poor

64.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Poor

64.2/100

Pollen forecast in Katlehong

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Katlehong right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Katlehong is fair. O3 is the main pollutant at 24.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (HCHO: 56.3/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Katlehong?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Katlehong will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 64.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (HCHO: 64.7/100).

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.

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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app