South Melbourne, Melbourne Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (7 October): Air quality in South Melbourne is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 are fair; O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM2.5: 33.4/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (8 October 2026): Air quality in South Melbourne is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 39.1/100).
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Air Quality
Today - 7 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 33.4/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 33.4/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 22.5/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 27.0/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 12.0/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 4.0/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 3.6/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 5.8/100 |
Tomorrow - 8 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 39.1/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 39.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 21.0/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Fair | 30.8/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.2/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 4.9/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.6/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 5.2/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 11.1/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
Around this location in Melbourne, dense development means road traffic is the main local source of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. Its position by the Port Phillip Bay brings breezes that often clear pollutants away. Port and shipping activity adds to local emissions. Parks and street trees provide a modest buffer against traffic pollution. Pollution carried in from the wider region can also raise levels at times.
The cooler months, June to August, see more fine particles, as home heating and traffic add emissions while frequent calm, cold mornings around 9°C keep pollution near the ground. By contrast, summer sun in January cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 20°C. Overall, stronger winds around September, about 20 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in Victoria
Is air quality bad in South Melbourne right now?
On 7 October 2026, overall air quality in South Melbourne is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 33.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (PM2.5: 33.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in South Melbourne?
On 8 October 2026, air quality conditions in South Melbourne will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.1/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 39.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in South Melbourne?
The cooler months, June to August, see more fine particles, as home heating and traffic add emissions while frequent calm, cold mornings around 9°C keep pollution near the ground. By contrast, summer sun in January cooks traffic fumes into ozone, especially in the warmest month, which averages 20°C. Overall, stronger winds around September, about 20 km/h on average, usually bring some of the cleanest air of the year.
Are air quality levels in South Melbourne 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |