Worst air pollution Nelson Bay, today and tomorrow
Today (10 August): Air quality in Nelson Bay is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 19.6/100).
Tomorrow (11 August 2026): Air quality in Nelson Bay is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.3/100). 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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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 - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Good
19.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
2.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.1/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
19.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
3.9/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 11 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
17.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
1.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
0.6/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
2.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
1.7/100
Pollen forecast in Nelson Bay
View pollen forecastSports venues in Nelson Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Nelson Bay right now?
On 10 August 2026, overall air quality in Nelson Bay is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 19.6/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 19.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Nelson Bay?
On 11 August 2026, air quality conditions in Nelson Bay will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 17.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 17.3/100).
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.
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: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 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.
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