Worst air pollution Wellington, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Wellington is fair. AQI and NO2 are fair; PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 36.3/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Wellington is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 31.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Wellington's air quality benefits from its exceptional Cook Strait position as one of the world's windiest capital cities, with consistent Southern Ocean and Cook Strait westerlies providing among the world's most powerful and reliable natural urban ventilation. Vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the government and services corridor contribute modest local sources, while the extraordinary wind exposure effectively disperses most local emissions and Wellington generally maintains among the Southern Hemisphere's cleaner major capital city environments throughout most of the year.
Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 21:00
AQI:
Fair
36.3/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
10.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.5/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
36.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
17.8/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
12.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.3/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
11.3/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 00:00
AQI:
Fair
31.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
9.4/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
3.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
31.5/100
O3 (ozone):
Good
14.6/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.6/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
1.2/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
9.6/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Wellington right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Wellington is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 36.3/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 36.3/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Wellington?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Wellington will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 31.5/100. Pollution peaks around 12:00 AM (NO2: 31.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Wellington?
Pollution in Wellington typically rises when traffic emissions, especially once winds are light and dispersion is poor. Day-to-day conditions here depend heavily on the weather. Conditions can otherwise vary considerably with the weather.
Are air quality levels in Wellington 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.
Check air quality in other popular cities:
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