Worst air pollution Darling Harbour - Sydney, today and tomorrow
Today (17 September): Air quality in Darling Harbour is moderate. AQI and PM2.5 are moderate; PM10, NO2, and PM1 are fair; O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 42.0/100).
Tomorrow (18 September 2026): Air quality in Darling Harbour is moderate. NO2 increases to moderate; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 51.4/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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This reclaimed waterfront precinct on the western edge of the CBD blends convention centres, restaurants and event crowds with a fairly constant flow of air off the harbour basin. Traffic feeding into the city along nearby roads and motorway approaches is the dominant local pollution source, though the open water and surrounding parkland help disperse it. Darling Harbour follows the same seasonal rhythm as the rest of Sydney, with bushfire smoke a risk in the summer months and light wood-smoke haze occasionally drifting in from surrounding suburbs during winter.
Today - 17 September | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Moderate
42.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
42.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
26.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
31.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
10.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.5/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
22.5/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 18 September | Pollution peaks at 20:00
AQI:
Moderate
51.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Moderate
46.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
31.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Moderate
51.4/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.2/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.1/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.8/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
10.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
37.8/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Darling Harbour right now?
On 17 September 2026, overall air quality in Darling Harbour is moderate. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 42.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (PM2.5: 42.0/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Darling Harbour?
On 18 September 2026, air quality conditions in Darling Harbour will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at moderate at 51.4/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 PM (NO2: 51.4/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Darling Harbour?
In Darling Harbour, part of Sydney, the toughest stretch for air quality is hot, dry summer stretches (December-March), when bushfire smoke is the dominant risk. Winter brings a quieter risk too: wood-heater smoke pooling on cold, still nights. Keeping half an eye on forecasts during that stretch is the practical takeaway otherwise.
Are air quality levels in Darling Harbour 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: 16 September 2026 at 20:30 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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