Worst air pollution South Yarra - Melbourne, today and tomorrow
Today (17 September): Air quality in South Yarra is moderate. AQI and PM2.5 are moderate; PM10 and NO2 are fair; O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 41.9/100).
Tomorrow (18 September 2026): Air quality in South Yarra is moderate. NO2 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM2.5: 42.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Straddling the Yarra River just south-east of the CBD, South Yarra combines a busy Chapel Street shopping strip with quieter, tree-lined residential pockets closer to the riverbank. Traffic along the main retail corridor is the more noticeable local pollution source, while the riverside parkland offers a bit of green relief and airflow. Being inland, the suburb relies more on general wind patterns than sea breeze for ventilation. Expect the standard Melbourne seasonal rhythm of winter wood-heater smoke and summer bushfire haze layered over this mixed urban character.
Today - 17 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
41.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
41.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
25.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
25.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
9.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.4/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 18 September | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Moderate
42.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
42.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
21.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
17.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
10.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
3.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.6/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.6/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in South Yarra right now?
On 17 September 2026, overall air quality in South Yarra is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 41.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 41.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in South Yarra?
On 18 September 2026, air quality conditions in South Yarra will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 42.0/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (PM2.5: 42.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in South Yarra?
In South Yarra, part of Melbourne, the toughest stretch for air quality is summer (December-March), when bushfire smoke can blanket the region on hot, dry, windy days. Winter adds its own trouble, with wood-heater smoke lingering on calm, cold nights. Keeping half an eye on forecasts during that stretch is the practical takeaway otherwise.
Are air quality levels in South Yarra 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: 16 September 2026 at 20:30 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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