Worst air pollution Gold Coast, today and tomorrow

On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Gold Coast is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 21.2/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 21.2/100).

On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Gold Coast will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.3/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 24.3/100).

The times to watch are dry spells in late winter and spring, when bushfires in the hinterland ranges behind the city can send smoke over the coastal strip, and hot, still summer days when ozone levels can build slightly in built-up areas. Sea breezes generally restore clear air quickly once conditions change.

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.

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.