Worst air pollution Castlemaine, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Castlemaine is medium. AQI and NO2 are medium; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 56.9/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Castlemaine is fair. PM2.5 increases to fair; PM1 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 56.1/100). 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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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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

56.9/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

9.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

56.9/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

15.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

14.9/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.7/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

11.5/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00

AQI:

Medium

56.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

25.6/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

7.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

56.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

16.0/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

17.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.3/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

31.1/100

Pollen forecast in Castlemaine

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Castlemaine right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Castlemaine is medium. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 56.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 56.9/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Castlemaine?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Castlemaine will be worse than today, with PM1 forecast at fair at 31.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 56.1/100).

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.

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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