Worst air pollution Phuthaditjhaba, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is moderate. AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are moderate; PM10, NO2, O3, and SO2 are fair; CO and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 55.5/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is poor. AQI worsens to poor; SO2 decreases to good; HCHO increases to fair; PM1 increases to poor; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 62.1/100). 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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Phuthaditjhaba's air quality reflects the QwaQwa highland position at 1,640 metres at the foot of the Drakensberg escarpment in the Free State-Lesotho border region, with vehicle traffic on the N5 and surrounding residential and agricultural operations contributing local sources. Winter Highveld temperature inversions can concentrate vehicle and biomass burning emissions, while the elevated Drakensberg position aids background dispersal on windy days and the surrounding highland grassland maintains relatively moderate conditions on most days throughout the year.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Moderate
55.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
51.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
31.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
21.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.2/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
13.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
55.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Poor
62.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
57.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
37.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
21.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
1.3/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
20.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Poor
62.1/100
Pollen forecast in Phuthaditjhaba
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Phuthaditjhaba
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Phuthaditjhaba right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 55.5/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 55.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Phuthaditjhaba?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Phuthaditjhaba will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 62.1/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 62.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Phuthaditjhaba?
At Phuthaditjhaba, 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 Phuthaditjhaba 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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