Tucson Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Tucson's air quality (Tucson, AZ area) had a median daily AQI of 55 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 13 days (3.6%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 124 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 277 (Very Unhealthy). Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 169 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was January (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 64, 6 days above 100, peak 126).
- Good: 33.9%
- Moderate: 62.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%
Extra Protection for Tucson Homes
Air quality in Tucson is moderate (AQI 52), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How was Tucson's air quality in 2020?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55, with 13 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 277 (Very Unhealthy).
- ✓Ground-level ozone was the main pollutant on 169 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst: August.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Tucson in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Tucson's (Tucson, AZ) median daily AQI for 2020 at 55, which is Moderate. 13 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 277.
Which month had the worst air quality in Tucson in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was January (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 64, 6 days above 100, peak 126).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Tucson's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2020's median of 55 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Tucson month by month in 2020
Tucson air quality month by month, 2020 (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarycleanest | 31 | 41 | 0 | 81 | O3 |
| February | 29 | 44 | 1 | 103 | O3 |
| March | 31 | 43 | 0 | 81 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 51 | 0 | 92 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 61 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 59 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 58 | 1 | 101 | PM10 |
| Augustworst | 31 | 64 | 6 | 126 | O3 |
| September | 30 | 65 | 1 | 110 | PM10 |
| October | 31 | 58 | 0 | 83 | PM10 |
| November | 30 | 57 | 1 | 277 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 58 | 1 | 129 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2020's median of 55 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Tucson
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Tucson's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Tucson air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Tucson, AZ), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.