Worst air pollution Prahran - Melbourne, today and tomorrow

Today (5 August): Air quality in Prahran 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: 28.7/100).
Tomorrow (6 August 2026): Air quality in Prahran is medium. AQI improves to medium; NO2 decreases to medium; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 43.1/100). 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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Chapel Street's boutiques and nightlife give Prahran a lively, traffic-heavy character, with the busy retail strip generating steady vehicle emissions that dominate local air quality more than any natural feature does. The Yarra River runs along part of the suburb's edge, offering a strip of green relief and modest airflow away from the main road. Being inland, Prahran misses the direct bay breezes enjoyed by suburbs like St Kilda, so wood smoke can settle on winter nights, and summer adds the usual regional bushfire haze risk.

Today - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00

AQI:

Fair

28.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

9.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.9/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

28.7/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

15.9/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

6.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.2/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.9/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 6 August | Pollution peaks at 20:00

AQI:

Medium

43.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

9.3/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

43.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

15.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

6.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

12.0/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Prahran right now?

On 5 August 2026, overall air quality in Prahran is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.7/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 28.7/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Prahran?

On 6 August 2026, air quality conditions in Prahran will be better than today, with AQI forecast at medium at 43.1/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 43.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Prahran?

Prahran shares Melbourne's seasonal pattern, with conditions worsening during summer (December-March), when bushfire smoke can blanket the region on hot, dry, windy days. There's a colder-season pattern too, with wood-smoke settling on frosty, windless evenings. Timing outdoor activity around this window and checking daily readings helps limit exposure.

Are air quality levels in Prahran 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