Shellharbour Air Quality Forecast - Today, Tomorrow
Air Quality Today
Today (7 October): Air quality in Shellharbour is fair. AQI, PM2.5, and PM10 are fair; NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 28.9/100).
Air Quality Tomorrow
Tomorrow (8 October 2026): Air quality in Shellharbour is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (PM2.5: 39.1/100).
Explore Forecasts
Pollen & Mold
Air Quality for Neighborhoods
Pollen in Other Cities
Get More in Our App
Local pollen and air quality forecasts, interactive pollen maps and route profiles
Features and forecast availability vary by region.
Air Quality
Today - 7 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 28.9/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 28.9/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 28.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 3.4/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 14.4/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.0/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.3/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 1.5/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 5.4/100 |
Tomorrow - 8 October
| Pollen species | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AQI | Fair | 39.1/100 |
| PM2.5 (fine particles) | Fair | 39.1/100 |
| PM10 (coarse particles) | Fair | 35.7/100 |
| NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) | Good | 13.7/100 |
| O3 (ozone) | Good | 13.8/100 |
| SO2 (sulfur dioxide) | Good | 1.8/100 |
| CO (carbon monoxide) | Good | 0.4/100 |
| HCHO (formaldehyde) | Good | 2.8/100 |
| PM1 (ultrafine particles) | Good | 15.0/100 |
Local Environmental Conditions
The center of Shellharbour combines built-up streets with more open land, so local traffic matters, though emissions are less concentrated than in a city center. Open water nearby lets breezes move freely across the area, helping to disperse pollutants. Pollution carried in from the wider region can also raise levels at times.
Fine particle levels climb from June to August, as home heating and traffic combine with cold, still air averaging 10°C. Later in the year, warm, sunny weather from January to February, around 21°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. From one day to the next, still, dry weather allows pollution to accumulate, and wind or rain clears it out.
Get pollen & AQ on Strava
Follow your environmental exposure and performance with the free Airmine-Strava integration. See your pollen and air quality exposure for every Strava activity.
Resource Hub
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Quality in New South Wales
Is air quality bad in Shellharbour right now?
On 7 October 2026, overall air quality in Shellharbour is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 28.9/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 28.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Shellharbour?
On 8 October 2026, air quality conditions in Shellharbour will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 39.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (PM2.5: 39.1/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Shellharbour?
Fine particle levels climb from June to August, as home heating and traffic combine with cold, still air averaging 10°C. Later in the year, warm, sunny weather from January to February, around 21°C at its peak, raises afternoon ozone levels. From one day to the next, still, dry weather allows pollution to accumulate, and wind or rain clears it out.
Are air quality levels in Shellharbour 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.
Understanding the Scale
The 0–100 air quality scores represent risk levels, not direct air pollutant concentrations. Higher scores indicate higher risk.
Air Quality
| Good | 0-20 | Low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be good, with low levels of pollution. |
| Fair | 20-40 | Generally low air quality risk. Air quality is expected to be acceptable, with some pollution present. |
| Moderate | 40-60 | Moderate air quality risk. Air pollution is elevated and air quality may be less favorable. |
| Poor | 60-80 | High air quality risk. Air pollution is high and air quality is expected to be poor. |
| Very Poor | 80-100 | Very high air quality risk. Air pollution is very high and air quality is expected to be very poor. |