Worst air pollution Carlton - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (5 August): Air quality in Carlton is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 20.5/100).
Tomorrow (6 August 2026): Air quality in Carlton is good. AQI improves to good; NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 19.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Home to Melbourne University and rows of Victorian terraces, Carlton sits immediately north of the CBD, close enough to inherit plenty of its neighbour's traffic without any bay breeze to clear it away. Busy streets like Lygon and Rathdowne carry steady vehicle flow past the suburb's cafes and student housing, making road traffic the main day-to-day influence on air quality here. Winter brings the familiar wood-smoke haze common across Melbourne's inner suburbs, while summer can add both bushfire smoke and the occasional ozone spike on hot, sunny days.
Today - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
20.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
20.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.1/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 6 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Good
19.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
19.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.0/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Carlton right now?
On 5 August 2026, overall air quality in Carlton is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 20.5/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 20.5/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Carlton?
On 6 August 2026, air quality conditions in Carlton will be better than today, with AQI forecast at good at 19.6/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 19.6/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Carlton?
Carlton, like the wider Melbourne area, tends to fare worst during summer bushfire season, roughly December to March, when fires in the surrounding bush push smoke into town. There's a colder-season pattern too, with wood-smoke settling on frosty, windless evenings. The rest of the year tends to be comfortable, making this the stretch worth watching for smoke-sensitive people.
Are air quality levels in Carlton 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: 4 August 2026 at 16:38 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app