Worst air pollution Surfers Paradise - Gold Coast, today and tomorrow
Today (25 August): Air quality in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise 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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Despite its wall of high-rise towers, Surfers Paradise sits directly on the open beachfront, and the strong onshore sea breeze rolling in from the Pacific and Coral Sea generally cuts through the urban density well enough to keep the beach strip's air feeling fresh. Heavy tourist and traffic volumes along the Gold Coast Highway are the main local pollution source. Subtropical patterns bring a risk of bushfire smoke haze from August to November and summer ozone on hot, still days, but the constant sea breeze is Surfers Paradise's saving grace.
Today - 25 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Good
19.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.8/100
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
4.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
20.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.5/100
Other Landmarks in Gold Coast
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Surfers Paradise right now?
On 25 August 2026, overall air quality in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?
On 26 August 2026, air quality conditions in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise?
The period to plan around in Surfers Paradise mirrors Gold Coast as a whole: the run-up to the wet season (August-November), when bushfire smoke is common and cane-burning adds to the mix locally. Hot, still summer days can also bring a build-up of ground-level ozone. Sensitive groups should watch forecasts during that period rather than assume year-round conditions apply.
Are air quality levels in Surfers Paradise 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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