Tucson Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Tucson's air quality (Tucson, AZ area) had a median daily AQI of 56 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 14 days (3.8%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 93 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 313 (Hazardous). Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 147 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 77, 3 days above 100, peak 108).
- Good: 25.5%
- Moderate: 70.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.6%
- 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.
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How was Tucson's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56, with 14 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 7th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 313 (Hazardous).
- ✓Ground-level ozone was the main pollutant on 147 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: February; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Tucson in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Tucson's (Tucson, AZ) median daily AQI for 2021 at 56, which is Moderate. 14 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 313.
Which month had the worst air quality in Tucson in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 77, 3 days above 100, peak 108).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Tucson's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here. 2021's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Tucson month by month in 2021
Tucson air quality month by month, 2021 (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 58 | 2 | 128 | PM2.5 |
| Februarycleanest | 28 | 53 | 0 | 90 | PM10 |
| March | 31 | 52 | 3 | 112 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 59 | 2 | 140 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 61 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 64 | 1 | 313 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 77 | 3 | 108 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 50 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| September | 30 | 56 | 1 | 127 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 54 | 1 | 148 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 56 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 55 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here.
2021's median of 56 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.