Worst air pollution Ballarat, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Ballarat is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 23.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Ballarat is fair. PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 28.5/100). 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
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Ballarat is well known for winter wood-smoke inversions, with its elevated basin setting trapping smoke from wood heaters on cold, still nights, making it one of the more consistently affected inland Victorian towns for this issue. Bushfire smoke in summer and occasional agricultural dust round out the seasonal picture for this Central Highlands city. Its position within Victoria's broader Central Highlands means it shares many of the same seasonal patterns as nearby towns.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
23.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
23.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
28.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
16.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
28.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
20.3/100
Pollen forecast in Ballarat
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ballarat right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Ballarat is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 23.3/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 23.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ballarat?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Ballarat will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 28.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 28.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ballarat?
Winter is the clear period of concern in Ballarat, as wood heater smoke regularly becomes trapped under temperature inversions on cold, calm nights, producing some of the more noticeable smoke haze in regional Victoria. Conditions typically improve once winds pick up, with much cleaner air through spring and summer barring bushfire smoke.
Are air quality levels in Ballarat 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