Worst air pollution Canberra, today and tomorrow
Today (4 August): Air quality in Canberra is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 14.7/100).
Tomorrow (5 August 2026): Air quality in Canberra is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 14.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Canberra is well known for winter wood-smoke inversions, with the city's bowl-like valley setting trapping smoke from wood heaters on cold, still nights, a pattern that makes it one of the more consistently affected capital cities for this issue. Summer bushfire smoke, as seen in major past fire seasons including 2019–2020, is the other dominant seasonal concern. Its purpose-built layout with extensive green space otherwise supports comparatively good air quality for a national capital.
Today - 4 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Good
14.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
11.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Good
14.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
2.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
0.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
12.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
2.8/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Canberra right now?
On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Canberra is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 14.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 14.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Canberra?
On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Canberra will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 14.4/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 14.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Canberra?
Winter nights are the most reliable period of reduced air quality in Canberra, as wood heater smoke settles under temperature inversions in the valley basin before clearing the next day. Summer can also bring significant smoke haze during major bushfire seasons in the surrounding ranges, making both winter and dry summers periods to watch.
Are air quality levels in Canberra 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: 4 August 2026 at 16:38 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app