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Hargeysa, the capital of the Woqooyi Galbeed region in northern Somalia, sits at an elevation of approximately 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) in the Maroodi Jeex valley, surrounded by the Golis and Ogo mountain ranges. This highland position in the Horn of Africa creates a unique urban geography where the city spreads across undulating terrain with seasonal riverbeds (tog) that remain dry for much of the year. The urban character blends traditional low-rise buildings with expanding informal settlements, creating a distinct urban-rural gradient where the city center transitions rapidly into arid scrubland. Hargeysa's location inland from the Gulf of Aden, approximately 110 kilometers south of the coast, means it lacks moderating maritime influences, resulting in greater temperature extremes that affect air pollution dispersion. The surrounding landscape consists primarily of semi-arid plains used for pastoralism and limited agriculture, with no major industrial belts but increasing urbanization pressure. This geography specifically impacts air quality through temperature inversions that trap pollutants in the valley, limited natural vegetation to filter particulates, and dust transport from surrounding arid lands during dry seasons. The city's growth has outpaced infrastructure development, leading to congestion from aging vehicles and biomass burning for cooking and heating, exacerbated by the topographic bowl effect that inhibits pollutant dispersal.

Hargeysa experiences two distinct seasons that shape its air quality narrative, with the dry season (December to March) bringing the poorest air conditions due to temperature inversions that trap pollutants close to the ground. During these months, cool nighttime temperatures in the highland valley create stable atmospheric layers that prevent vertical mixing, allowing particulate matter from vehicle emissions, dust, and domestic biomass burning to accumulate. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activities in early mornings when inversions are strongest. The transitional period (April to June) sees improving conditions as increasing temperatures and occasional Gu rains help wash pollutants from the air, though dust storms from surrounding arid lands can cause temporary spikes. The main rainy season (July to September) offers the cleanest air, with regular precipitation scrubbing particulates from the atmosphere and winds providing better dispersion. However, humidity during this period can combine with pollutants to create haze. October and November represent another transitional phase where decreasing rainfall allows pollutants to gradually build up again. Throughout the year, wind patterns play a crucial role, with northeasterly winds during the dry season transporting additional dust from the Haud region, while southerly monsoon winds during the rainy season bring cleaner maritime air. Health guidance emphasizes that asthma sufferers and those with respiratory conditions should be particularly cautious during the dry season inversion periods.