Worst air pollution Rockhampton, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in Rockhampton is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Rockhampton is fair. NO2 increases to fair; SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 24.4/100). 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

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Air quality in Rockhampton is generally good, though its inland position away from direct coastal breezes means less consistent natural ventilation than towns right on the coast. Bushfire and grassfire smoke during dry spells is the main seasonal concern, along with some agricultural dust from surrounding grazing land during particularly dry stretches of the year. The city's tropical fringe heat can also contribute to occasional haze build-up during particularly still, humid spells.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 15:00

AQI:

Fair

20.5/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

8.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

3.3/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

19.5/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

18.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

5.6/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 20:00

AQI:

Fair

24.4/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Good

6.2/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

2.2/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Fair

24.4/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

20.6/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Fair

20.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

2.8/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

6.3/100

Pollen forecast in Rockhampton

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Rockhampton right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Rockhampton is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 20.5/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 20.5/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Rockhampton?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Rockhampton will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 24.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 24.4/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Rockhampton?

The period most likely to bring smoke and dust is the dry season stretch from late winter through spring, when grassfires and bushfires on the surrounding pastoral land are more common, along with dust from dry paddocks. Wetter months typically bring much cleaner air to the Fitzroy Valley.

Are air quality levels in Rockhampton 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?

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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