Worst air pollution Katoomba, today and tomorrow
Today (30 August): Air quality in Katoomba is fair. AQI, PM2.5, NO2, O3, SO2, and PM1 are fair; PM10, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 36.7/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Katoomba is poor. AQI worsens to poor; PM2.5 increases to moderate; O3 increases to moderate; SO2 increases to poor; PM1 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 70.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Perched high in the Blue Mountains, Katoomba typically enjoys crisp, clean mountain air for much of the year, aided by elevation and surrounding eucalypt forest. That same forested setting, however, makes it acutely vulnerable to bushfire smoke, and the town was heavily affected during the catastrophic 2019-20 fire season when smoke haze persisted for weeks. Cold winter nights encourage wood heater use, which can settle in valleys and pockets around town under still, frosty conditions. Outside fire and heating seasons, background air quality is excellent.
Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
36.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
32.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
9.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
33.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
22.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
36.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 10:00
AQI:
Poor
70.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
41.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
12.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
38.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Moderate
53.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Poor
70.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
12.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Moderate
43.9/100
Pollen forecast in Katoomba
View pollen forecastAir quality forecasts for neighbourhoods and landmarks in Katoomba
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Katoomba right now?
On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Katoomba is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (PM1: 36.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Katoomba?
On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Katoomba will be worse than today, with AQI forecast at poor at 70.9/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (SO2: 70.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Katoomba?
In practical terms, Katoomba sees its worst air during 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. Outside that window conditions are usually clear, so check forecasts if you have asthma or other sensitivities.
Are air quality levels in Katoomba 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: 30 August 2026 at 08:36 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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