Worst air pollution Phuthaditjhaba, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is fair. AQI, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 27.4/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is fair. PM1 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 23.6/100). 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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Fair
27.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
14.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
19.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
23.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
23.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.7/100
Pollen forecast in Phuthaditjhaba
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Phuthaditjhaba right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Phuthaditjhaba is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.4/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 27.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Phuthaditjhaba?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Phuthaditjhaba will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 23.6/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 23.6/100).
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.
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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