Worst air pollution Merewether - Newcastle, today and tomorrow

Today (30 August): Air quality in Merewether is fair. AQI, PM2.5, O3, and PM1 are fair; PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 34.0/100).
Tomorrow (31 August 2026): Air quality in Merewether is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 33.6/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

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Merewether sits directly on the Newcastle coastline, its famous beach and ocean baths exposed to strong onshore breezes that provide excellent natural ventilation and keep background air quality among the best in the city. Traffic is light, confined to local streets rather than major through-routes. There is no industry nearby, in contrast to Newcastle's port precinct further north. Bushfire smoke is a periodic summer risk from hinterland bushland. Overall, this beachside suburb enjoys consistently clean, well-mixed coastal air.

Today - 30 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00

AQI:

Fair

34.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

27.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.0/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

26.4/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

5.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

34.0/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 31 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00

AQI:

Fair

33.6/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

28.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

8.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

30.7/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

0/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

7.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Fair

33.6/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Merewether right now?

On 30 August 2026, overall air quality in Merewether is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 34.0/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 34.0/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Merewether?

On 31 August 2026, air quality conditions in Merewether will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 33.6/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 33.6/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Merewether?

Merewether's beachside position generally keeps air quality good, with the main concerns being summer bushfire smoke, December to March, on hot, still days, and occasional wood-heater smoke on cold, calm winter nights. Being right on the coast, onshore breezes here tend to clear haze faster than in suburbs further inland.

Are air quality levels in Merewether 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: 30 August 2026 at 14:32 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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