Worst air pollution Mackay, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Mackay is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 19.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Mackay is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 19.7/100). 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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This sugar region city's air quality is distinctively shaped by cane fire smoke during the June–December crushing season, a long-standing local practice, alongside dry-season savanna burning haze and the cyclone risk typical of the Queensland tropical coast between November and April. Cane fire smoke is heaviest during the peak crushing months of August to November, sometimes settling over the city on still, humid nights. Wet-season humidity from roughly December to April brings its own mould and fungal spore risk, while onshore trade winds off the Coral Sea generally provide good ventilation outside these periods.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Good
19.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
11.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Good
19.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.6/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
10.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
5.9/100
Pollen forecast in Mackay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Mackay right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Mackay is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 19.8/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 19.8/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Mackay?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Mackay will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 19.7/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 19.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Mackay?
Air quality is typically worst during the cane-burning and crushing season, roughly August to November, when smoke from surrounding cane fields is most prevalent; outside crush season, coastal breezes generally keep air quality good aside from wet-season humidity.
Are air quality levels in Mackay 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app