Worst air pollution Sydney, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Sydney is fair. AQI and O3 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 38.9/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Sydney is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 32.3/100). 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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Sydney's air quality has historically been shaped by the legacy Sydney Steel plant and coke ovens, a major contamination site now remediated, with harbour shipping traffic the modern local source.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 08:00
AQI:
Fair
38.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.2/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
11.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
38.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
7.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
6.2/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Fair
32.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
5.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
2.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
5.2/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
32.3/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
0.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
3.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.6/100
Pollen forecast in Sydney
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Sydney right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Sydney is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 38.9/100. Pollution peaks around 8:00 AM (O3: 38.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Sydney?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Sydney will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 32.3/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (O3: 32.3/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Sydney?
Sydney sees clear seasonal swings in air quality, driven in part by its Cape Breton harbourside setting and steel-industry legacy. Coastal fog and summer humidity are the main features, occasionally trapping local emissions on calm, muggy days, while winter storms off the Atlantic usually keep the air scoured clean. Onshore breezes off the Atlantic usually clear the air within a day or so.
Are air quality levels in 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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app