Worst air pollution Forbes, today and tomorrow

Today (17 September): Air quality in Forbes is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 12.6/100).
Tomorrow (18 September 2026): Air quality in Forbes is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 19.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Forbes lies on the flat Central West plains of NSW, where wide open cropping country means dust becomes the standout air quality issue during dry, windy spells, especially around harvest and cultivation periods. Wood heater smoke adds to winter conditions on calm nights, though the flatter terrain here allows somewhat better dispersal than in surrounding valley towns. Bushfire smoke is a periodic summer concern. With no significant industry, background air quality is otherwise clean and typical of inland NSW.

Today - 17 September | Pollution peaks at 20:00

AQI:

Good

12.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

6.5/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

4.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

12.6/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

11.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.4/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.3/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

2.3/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 18 September | Pollution peaks at 19:00

AQI:

Good

19.3/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

8.4/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

5.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

19.3/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

12.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0.6/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.3/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

1.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

3.5/100

Pollen forecast in Forbes

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Air quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Forbes

Sports venues in Forbes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Forbes right now?

On 17 September 2026, overall air quality in Forbes is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 12.6/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 12.6/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Forbes?

On 18 September 2026, air quality conditions in Forbes will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 19.3/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 19.3/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Forbes?

Forbes' worst air days tend to come from agricultural dust, whipped up during dry, windy periods common in late spring and summer across the central west plains. Winter wood-heater smoke on calm nights adds a smaller seasonal bump. Bushfire smoke can drift in during severe fire seasons, but dust and still-night smoke are the more regular culprits here.

Are air quality levels in Forbes 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: 16 September 2026 at 20:30 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.

Some text on this page may be generated or summarised using artificial intelligence (AI). Wherever possible, AI-generated content is enriched with Airmine's proprietary data to improve its accuracy and relevance. However, AI-generated content may still contain errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

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