Worst air pollution Ballina, today and tomorrow
Today (20 September): Air quality in Ballina is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 29.7/100).
Tomorrow (21 September 2026): Air quality in Ballina is fair. PM10 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 36.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Air quality in Ballina is generally good, aided by consistent sea breezes off the Pacific that ventilate this coastal Northern Rivers town for much of the year. The main seasonal factors are smoke from sugarcane burning in surrounding cane districts, typically June to December, and bushfire smoke in the drier months before the wet season arrives. Humidity stays high for much of the year, which can affect mould-sensitive residents.
Today - 20 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
29.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
29.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
16.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
21.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
27.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 21 September | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
36.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
36.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
27.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.5/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
8.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
33.7/100
Pollen forecast in Ballina
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Ballina
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Ballina right now?
On 20 September 2026, overall air quality in Ballina is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 29.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 29.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Ballina?
On 21 September 2026, air quality conditions in Ballina will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 36.9/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 36.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Ballina?
Expect the main air quality disruptions in Ballina during the cane-burning season, roughly June to December, when smoke from pre-harvest burns in surrounding sugarcane districts can drift across the town, and during any bushfire smoke events in the lead-up to the wet season. The reliable coastal sea breeze generally helps clear haze relatively quickly, so conditions tend to improve later in the day.
Are air quality levels in Ballina 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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