Worst air pollution Cairns, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Cairns is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 18.7/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Cairns is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 19.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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This tropical north Queensland gateway city's air quality reflects its Wet Tropics setting: very high humidity and mould risk during the wet season, alongside dry-season savanna burning haze and smoke from sugar cane fires in the surrounding agricultural districts during the crush season. Humidity remains high for much of the year, encouraging mould growth indoors, while the dry season from around May to October brings clearer skies interrupted by savanna burning haze drifting off surrounding grazing country. Sea breezes off Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea generally ventilate well, though cane smoke can settle on still nights during crushing.
Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Good
18.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
4.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Good
19.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.5/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.2/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cairns right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Cairns is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 18.7/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 18.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cairns?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Cairns will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 19.4/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 19.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cairns?
Air quality is typically worst during the dry-season cane-burning and crush period, roughly June to December, when smoke from surrounding cane fields can affect the city; the wet season (November–April) brings cleaner air but very high humidity and mould spore levels.
Are air quality levels in Cairns 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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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