Worst air pollution Palm Cove - Cairns, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Palm Cove 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 Palm Cove 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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North of the city centre, Palm Cove is a quieter, resort-lined beach suburb where a shaded esplanade of paperbark trees fronts a calm, reef-sheltered stretch of coastline. Lower density and less traffic than central Cairns mean everyday air quality here is generally very good, aided by consistent trade winds off the Coral Sea. The tropical wet season from November to April brings high humidity, while the dry season months can occasionally carry drifting savanna-burning smoke, though Palm Cove's breezy, low-key setting usually keeps conditions pleasant.
Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Good
18.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
3.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.6/100
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
4.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
9.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.6/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Palm Cove right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Palm Cove 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 Palm Cove?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Palm Cove 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 Palm Cove?
For visitors and locals in Palm Cove, the Cairns-wide risk period is the cooler dry months (June-October), when land managers and graziers burn off savanna country and smoke haze becomes a regular visitor. 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 Palm Cove 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: 10 August 2026 at 02:34 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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