Worst air pollution Moranbah, today and tomorrow

Today (4 August): Air quality in Moranbah is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100).
Tomorrow (5 August 2026): Air quality in Moranbah is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 22.1/100). 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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Moranbah sits at the heart of the Bowen Basin coalfields, and mining-related dust from open-cut operations and haul roads is the town's standout air quality issue, more pronounced here than in most other Queensland towns of similar size. Dry-season conditions and strong inland winds can carry this dust into town. Bushfire smoke is a lesser but real spring risk from surrounding bushland. Humidity and ozone follow the general subtropical pattern, but mining dust remains the dominant local driver.

Today - 4 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00

AQI:

Fair

20.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

5.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

1.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.0/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

6.8/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 17:00

AQI:

Fair

22.1/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

5.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

1.6/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

22.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

3.1/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

7.8/100

Pollen forecast in Moranbah

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Moranbah right now?

On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Moranbah is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 20.5/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Moranbah?

On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Moranbah will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 22.1/100. Pollution peaks around 5:00 PM (O3: 22.1/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Moranbah?

Moranbah's inland Bowen Basin setting means pre-wet-season bushfire smoke (August–November) from surrounding grass and bushland is the main natural air-quality risk, alongside hot, still summer days that can bring localised dust and haze. Outside these periods, expect generally clear conditions typical of this inland Queensland town.

Are air quality levels in Moranbah 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