Worst air pollution Essendon - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (5 August): Air quality in Essendon 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: 37.6/100).
Tomorrow (6 August 2026): Air quality in Essendon is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 35.9/100). 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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Essendon sits under the flight paths of Melbourne Airport in the city's north-west, giving it a distinctive aircraft noise and emissions profile alongside heavy traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway and Bulla Road corridors. Its inland position provides limited natural ventilation compared with bayside suburbs. There is no significant industry remaining. Bushfire smoke is a periodic summer risk from outer hinterland. Overall, background air quality here reflects the combined influence of airport proximity and major arterial road traffic.
Today - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
37.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
12.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
37.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
7.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
15.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 6 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
35.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
35.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
12.9/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Essendon right now?
On 5 August 2026, overall air quality in Essendon is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 37.6/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 37.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Essendon?
On 6 August 2026, air quality conditions in Essendon will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 35.9/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 35.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Essendon?
Essendon's inner-northwest location means it experiences Melbourne's typical seasonal pattern fairly directly: summer bushfire smoke (December–March) on hot, still days, and a wood-heater haze rise on cold winter nights. Expect the most noticeable dips in these windows, with generally clear air for the rest of the year.
Are air quality levels in Essendon 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