Worst air pollution North Sydney - Sydney, today and tomorrow
Today (18 August): Air quality in North Sydney is fair. PM2.5 and PM1 are fair; AQI and NO2 are medium; PM10, O3, SO2, CO, and HCHO are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 43.9/100).
Tomorrow (19 August 2026): Air quality in North Sydney is fair. SO2 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (NO2: 46.9/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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North Sydney functions as a secondary CBD, and its cluster of high-rise office towers sits along the busy Pacific Highway corridor, making road traffic the dominant local air quality factor despite the suburb's harbourside position. Harbour breezes do help disperse emissions more effectively than fully inland business districts. There is no industry present. Bushfire smoke is a periodic summer concern from northern hinterland bushland. Overall, background air quality here reflects a busy commercial precinct moderated by coastal ventilation.
Today - 18 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Medium
43.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
22.3/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
6.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
43.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.0/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
16.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
11.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
26.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 19 August | Pollution peaks at 02:00
AQI:
Medium
46.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
28.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
8.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
46.9/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Fair
29.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
12.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Fair
34.1/100
Other Landmarks in Sydney
Sports venues in Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in North Sydney right now?
On 18 August 2026, overall air quality in North Sydney is fair. PM1 is the main pollutant at 26.2/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 43.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in North Sydney?
On 19 August 2026, air quality conditions in North Sydney will be similar to today, with PM1 forecast at fair at 34.1/100. Pollution peaks around 2:00 AM (NO2: 46.9/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in North Sydney?
North Sydney's commercial density adds some traffic haze on hot, still days, but its harbourside position generally keeps air moving well. The main seasonal risk remains summer bushfire smoke (December–March) pushing in on northwesterly winds. Outside this window, expect reliably good air quality.
Are air quality levels in North Sydney 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: 17 August 2026 at 20:32 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.
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