Worst air pollution Paddington - Sydney, today and tomorrow
Today (4 August): Air quality in Paddington is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 27.2/100).
Tomorrow (5 August 2026): Air quality in Paddington is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 27.0/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Paddington sits on an elevated ridge close to the Sydney CBD, its dense terrace-house streets lined with moderate through-traffic that contributes localised vehicle emissions, though the ridgetop position aids dispersal compared with low-lying inner suburbs. There is no industry here, and background air quality is generally good given the harbour city's typical strong sea-breeze ventilation. Bushfire smoke drifting from surrounding hinterland is the main summer risk, alongside some wood heater smoke on still winter nights in surrounding terraces.
Today - 4 August | Pollution peaks at 19:00
AQI:
Fair
27.2/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
27.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
8.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
5.0/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
10.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 5 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00
AQI:
Fair
27.0/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
6.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
27.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
16.1/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.9/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.6/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Paddington right now?
On 4 August 2026, overall air quality in Paddington is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.2/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 PM (NO2: 27.2/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Paddington?
On 5 August 2026, air quality conditions in Paddington will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 27.0/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Paddington?
Paddington's harbourside position within the eastern suburbs generally shields it from the worst smoke, but summer bushfire haze (December–March) can still push in on strong northwesterlies, and cold winter evenings occasionally bring faint wood-smoke odour from nearby terraces. Expect mostly clean air, with any dip usually short-lived once sea breezes return.
Are air quality levels in Paddington 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: 4 August 2026 at 16:38 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app