Worst air pollution Cairns Esplanade - Cairns, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Cairns Esplanade is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.7/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Cairns Esplanade is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 19.4/100). 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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Running along the edge of Trinity Inlet where it opens into the Coral Sea, the Cairns Esplanade is a lively boardwalk precinct that benefits from steady trade-wind exposure even amid the tropical humidity that defines this part of Queensland. That onshore airflow helps keep the air feeling fresh despite the crowds and traffic along the adjacent city streets. The wet season from November to April brings heavy humidity, while the dry season from roughly June to October can carry haze from savanna burning further inland, though the coastal breeze here usually keeps it at bay.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
17.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
3.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
19.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
2.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.0/100
Other Landmarks in Cairns
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Cairns Esplanade right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Cairns Esplanade is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 17.7/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Cairns Esplanade?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Cairns Esplanade will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 19.4/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 19.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Cairns Esplanade?
Cairns Esplanade shares Cairns's seasonal pattern, with conditions worsening during the June-to-October dry season, when the surrounding grass and woodland country burns and smoke can sit over the region for days at a time. Through the wet months, smoke haze clears out, swapped for mugginess and cyclone risk. Keeping half an eye on forecasts during that stretch is the practical takeaway otherwise.
Are air quality levels in Cairns Esplanade 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