Worst air pollution Castlemaine, today and tomorrow

Today (10 August): Air quality in Castlemaine is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 12.7/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Castlemaine is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 13.5/100). 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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Castlemaine, a historic goldfields town in central Victoria, is known regionally for elevated winter wood smoke levels, as its many older homes rely heavily on wood heating during cold nights, with smoke sometimes settling under still, frosty conditions typical of the area's valley terrain. Surrounding dry forest brings a real bushfire smoke risk each summer. Agricultural dust from nearby grazing and cropping land adds a smaller, more seasonal contribution. With limited heavy industry, background air quality is generally good outside the cooler months, when wood smoke becomes the dominant local concern.

Today - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Good

12.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

1.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

0.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

11.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

12.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

1.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

1.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00

AQI:

Good

13.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

6.9/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

13.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

13.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

4.0/100

Pollen forecast in Castlemaine

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Castlemaine right now?

On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Castlemaine is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 12.7/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (O3: 12.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Castlemaine?

On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Castlemaine will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 13.5/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 13.5/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Castlemaine?

Castlemaine's worst air days tend to cluster around the December-to-March bushfire season, when smoke from nearby fires drifts through on hot northerlies. Winter brings a quieter risk too: wood-heater smoke pooling on cold, still nights. Timing outdoor activity around this window and checking daily readings helps limit exposure.

Are air quality levels in Castlemaine 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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