Big Bowl, Lake Cathie Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (7 October): Air quality in Big Bowl is fair. AQI and PM10 are fair; PM2.5, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM10: 23.9/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (8 October 2026): Air quality in Big Bowl is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 21.5/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 7 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 23.9/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 19.8/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 23.9/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 1.9/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 16.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 2.2/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.5/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 8.7/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 6.0/100 |
Tomorrow - 8 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 21.5/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Good | 18.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 21.5/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 1.6/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 19.7/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.6/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.3/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.4/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 4.2/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
With little dense development around this location in Lake Cathie, local traffic emissions are modest. Breezes off the nearby water usually help clear pollutants away. Pollution carried in from the wider region can also raise levels at times. Levels are generally highest right next to busy roads and drop off quickly with distance.
Cooler, still evenings from June to August, averaging about 16°C, tend to hold exhaust close to busy streets. By contrast, summer sun from October to April cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 24°C. July is usually the windiest month, averaging about 20 km/h, which helps keep the air clean.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in New South Wales
Is air quality bad in Big Bowl right now?
On 7 October 2026, overall air quality in Big Bowl is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 23.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM10: 23.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Big Bowl?
On 8 October 2026, air quality conditions in Big Bowl will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 21.5/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 AM (PM10: 21.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Big Bowl?
Cooler, still evenings from June to August, averaging about 16°C, tend to hold exhaust close to busy streets. By contrast, summer sun from October to April cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 24°C. July is usually the windiest month, averaging about 20 km/h, which helps keep the air clean.
Are air quality levels in Big Bowl 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |