Worst air pollution Burleigh Heads - Gold Coast, today and tomorrow
Today (25 August): Air quality in Burleigh Heads is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 19.0/100).
Tomorrow (26 August 2026): Air quality in Burleigh Heads is fair. AQI worsens to fair; O3 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 20.8/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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South of the high-rise strip, Burleigh Heads offers a lower-density, more laid-back beach setting where a national park headland juts out into the Pacific, and the strong sea breeze sweeping around that point keeps the air notably clean. Fewer towers and less traffic congestion than Surfers Paradise mean there's simply less local pollution to begin with. The same subtropical seasonal pattern applies, with bushfire smoke a risk from August through November and the sea breeze providing reliable ventilation for the rest of the year.
Today - 25 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Good
19.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
7.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
1.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 26 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Fair
20.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
8.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
2.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.5/100
Other Landmarks in Gold Coast
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Burleigh Heads right now?
On 25 August 2026, overall air quality in Burleigh Heads is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 19.0/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 19.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Burleigh Heads?
On 26 August 2026, air quality conditions in Burleigh Heads will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 20.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 20.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Burleigh Heads?
This pocket of Gold Coast follows the broader city pattern, worst during August through November, as bushfire smoke gathers before the wet season, worsened by cane burn-offs in growing areas. Muggy, windless summer afternoons bring their own ozone build-up too. Sensitive groups should watch forecasts during that period rather than assume year-round conditions apply.
Are air quality levels in Burleigh Heads 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: 24 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.
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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