Worst air pollution Manuka - Canberra, today and tomorrow
Today (4 August): Air quality in Manuka is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 14.8/100).
Tomorrow (5 August 2026): Air quality in Manuka is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 16.1/100). 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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Tucked into Canberra's leafy inner south near the Parliamentary Triangle, Manuka is a low-key shopping and dining precinct surrounded by established gardens and tree-lined residential streets. Its human-scaled, low-rise character means traffic volumes stay modest compared with Canberra's larger town centres, helping keep local air quality generally good. As with the rest of the Canberra basin, though, wood-heater smoke can build up on cold, still winter nights when a temperature inversion traps smoke close to the ground, affecting even this quieter, greener part of the city.
Today - 4 August | Pollution peaks at 21:00
AQI:
Good
14.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
4.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
14.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Good
16.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
2.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
0.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
16.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.1/100
Other Landmarks in Canberra
Sports venues in Canberra
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Manuka right now?
On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Manuka is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 14.8/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 14.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Manuka?
On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Manuka will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 16.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 16.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Manuka?
In Manuka, part of Canberra, the toughest stretch for air quality is the December-to-March bushfire season, when smoke from nearby fires drifts through on hot northerlies. A second dip comes in winter, when still nights trap wood-heater smoke near ground level. Outside that window conditions are usually clear, so check forecasts if you have asthma or other sensitivities.
Are air quality levels in Manuka 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