Worst air pollution Khayelitsha, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Khayelitsha is poor. AQI and SO2 are poor; O3 is fair; PM2.5, NO2, HCHO, and PM1 are medium; PM10 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 61.2/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Khayelitsha is poor. PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 61.1/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.
Khayelitsha's air quality faces serious challenges as Cape Town's largest township, with residential wood and paraffin burning from informal settlements generating elevated PM2.5 during winter, while the flat Cape Flats position downwind of the Cape Town industrial corridor adds background pollution on southeasterly Cape Doctor winds. The Cape Doctor wind that brings relief to the Atlantic suburbs instead carries emissions across the flat Cape Flats toward Khayelitsha.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Poor
61.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
45.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
18.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
43.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
25.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
61.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
45.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
50.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Poor
61.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
50.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
23.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
43.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
22.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
61.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Medium
51.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
57.4/100
Pollen forecast in Khayelitsha
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Khayelitsha right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Khayelitsha is poor. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 61.2/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (SO2: 61.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Khayelitsha?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Khayelitsha will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at poor at 61.1/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (SO2: 61.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Khayelitsha?
At Khayelitsha, occasional poor air quality tends to occur on calm winter days from June to August, when the Cape's usual wind drops off and local emissions can build up overnight around the town. Through spring and summer, the reliable southeasterly wind returns and generally keeps particulate levels low and well dispersed across the wider region.
Are air quality levels in Khayelitsha 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in South Africa?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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