Worst air pollution Footscray - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (25 August): Air quality in Footscray is moderate. AQI and NO2 are moderate; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 43.1/100).
Tomorrow (26 August 2026): Air quality in Footscray is fair. AQI improves to fair; NO2 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 33.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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This inner-western suburb grew up around rail yards and manufacturing, and while gentrification has reshaped much of its streetscape, the legacy of nearby industrial land and busy arterial roads still shapes local air quality more than it does in Melbourne's leafier suburbs. Its position beside the Maribyrnong River offers some airflow, though the built-up, traffic-heavy surrounds dominate day to day. Footscray follows the broader Melbourne seasonal pattern of winter wood smoke and summer bushfire haze, with occasional industrial odour lingering from its working past.
Today - 25 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Moderate
43.1/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
43.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
14.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 26 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
33.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
33.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.8/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Footscray right now?
On 25 August 2026, overall air quality in Footscray is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 43.1/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 43.1/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Footscray?
On 26 August 2026, air quality conditions in Footscray will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.0/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 33.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Footscray?
Footscray, 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. It's worth checking daily readings during that period, since the rest of the year rarely causes concern.
Are air quality levels in Footscray 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: 24 August 2026 at 20:27 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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