Worst air pollution The Rocks - Sydney, today and tomorrow
Today (25 August): Air quality in The Rocks is good. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 18.7/100).
Tomorrow (26 August 2026): Air quality in The Rocks is good. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 18.3/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Tucked beneath the Harbour Bridge on Sydney's original waterfront, The Rocks combines cobbled laneways and sandstone warehouses with a steady flow of harbour air that helps clear away traffic fumes from the nearby CBD approaches. Tourist crowds and idling tour buses add a local traffic signature, but the open water on three sides means pollutants rarely settle for long. Seasonal smoke from wood heaters in winter and bushfires in summer affects this precinct much as it does the rest of harbourside Sydney, though the harbour breeze offers reliable relief.
Today - 25 August | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Good
18.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.0/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
1.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
13.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
5.8/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
6.5/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 26 August | Pollution peaks at 15:00
AQI:
Good
18.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
7.5/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.7/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
18.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
18.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
4.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.6/100
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in The Rocks right now?
On 25 August 2026, overall air quality in The Rocks is good. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 18.7/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (NO2: 18.7/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in The Rocks?
On 26 August 2026, air quality conditions in The Rocks will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at good at 18.3/100. Pollution peaks around 3:00 PM (O3: 18.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in The Rocks?
Air quality around The Rocks tracks Sydney overall, dipping during summer (December-March), when bushfire smoke can blanket the region on hot, dry, windy days. A second dip comes in winter, when still nights trap wood-heater smoke near ground level. It's worth checking daily readings during that period, since the rest of the year rarely causes concern.
Are air quality levels in The Rocks 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: 24 August 2026 at 20:27 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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