Worst air pollution Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (25 August): Air quality in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 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: 41.6/100).
Tomorrow (26 August 2026): Air quality in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is fair. AQI improves to fair; NO2 decreases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 30.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
Follow your pollen exposure and performance with the free Airmine–Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Rising at the edge of Melbourne's CBD within the open parkland of Yarra Park, the MCG sits close enough to city traffic to feel some urban influence, though the surrounding trees and green space help disperse what does build up. As Australia's biggest stadium, it draws huge crowds and traffic volumes on event days, adding a temporary local load to the CBD-fringe air. More broadly, Melbourne's seasonal patterns shape conditions here too, with wood heater smoke common on still winter nights in outer suburbs and the risk of bushfire smoke drifting into the city during summer.
Today - 25 August | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Moderate
41.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
41.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
13.0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
13.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 26 August | Pollution peaks at 22:00
AQI:
Fair
30.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
11.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
4.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
30.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
7.6/100
Other Landmarks in Melbourne
Sports venues in Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) right now?
On 25 August 2026, overall air quality in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.6/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 41.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)?
On 26 August 2026, air quality conditions in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will be better than today, with AQI forecast at fair at 30.7/100. Pollution peaks around 10:00 PM (NO2: 30.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)?
For those attending matches at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the risk period for poor air is summer bushfire season, roughly December to March, when fires in the surrounding bush push smoke into town. Winter brings a quieter risk too: wood-heater smoke pooling on cold, still nights. For most of the year the venue sees clear conditions otherwise.
Are air quality levels in Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in Australia?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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.
Get the full experience in the Airmine app.