Worst air pollution Northcote - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (5 August): Air quality in Northcote is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 15.4/100).
Tomorrow (6 August 2026): Air quality in Northcote is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 15.8/100). 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
Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.
Northcote sits on relatively flat ground in Melbourne's inner north, where High Street carries heavy traffic through the suburb's commercial spine, making vehicle emissions the main localised air quality factor. It is now predominantly residential and retail, with little remaining industry. Its inland position gives it less natural ventilation than bayside suburbs. Bushfire smoke is a periodic summer risk from outer hinterland, and wood heater smoke can build on still winter nights. Overall, conditions are typical of dense inner-Melbourne suburbs.
Today - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 12:00
AQI:
Good
15.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 6 August | Pollution peaks at 14:00
AQI:
Good
15.8/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.1/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
15.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.5/100
Other Landmarks in Melbourne
Sports venues in Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Northcote right now?
On 5 August 2026, overall air quality in Northcote is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 15.4/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 PM (O3: 15.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Northcote?
On 6 August 2026, air quality conditions in Northcote will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 15.8/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 PM (O3: 15.8/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Northcote?
Northcote's inner-north setting means it shares Melbourne's core seasonal pattern: summer bushfire smoke (December–March) on hot, still days, and wood-heater smoke building up on cold winter nights in this densely built area. Expect these two windows to bring the year's most noticeable dips, with generally good air between them.
Are air quality levels in Northcote 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: 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