Worst air pollution Nelson Bay, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Nelson Bay is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 18.0/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Nelson Bay is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 17.2/100). 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.
As a sheltered bay resort town, Nelson Bay generally enjoys clean coastal air, aided by consistent breezes off Port Stephens and the Tasman Sea that disperse local pollutants efficiently. The main risk comes from summer bushfire smoke, which can drift over the Port Stephens area from hinterland or regional fires during dry, high fire-danger periods, as occurred during the 2019-20 Black Summer season. Everyday traffic and industrial pollution are minimal given the town's small, tourism-focused character.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
18.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
8.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.8/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
1.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Good
17.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.8/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
0.8/100
Sports venues in Nelson Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Nelson Bay right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Nelson Bay is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 18.0/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 18.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Nelson Bay?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Nelson Bay will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 17.2/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Nelson Bay?
Nelson Bay's air is at its worst during summer bushfire season, when smoke from hinterland or wider regional fires can drift over the sheltered bay, sometimes lingering if the usual sea breeze weakens. Outside of fire risk periods, expect reliably clean coastal air, with only minor wood-smoke haze possible in town on still winter nights.
Are air quality levels in Nelson Bay 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.
Want to see air quality forecasts for other cities in Australia?
Check air quality in other popular cities:
Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app