Bakersfield Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Bakersfield's air quality (Bakersfield, CA area) had a median daily AQI of 84 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 128 days (35.1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 35 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 314 (Hazardous). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 199 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 129, 23 days above 100, peak 177).
- Good: 9.6%
- Moderate: 55.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 26.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 8.5%
Extra Protection for Bakersfield Homes
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How was Bakersfield's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 84, with 128 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 314 (Hazardous).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 199 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: March; worst: August.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Bakersfield in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Bakersfield's (Bakersfield, CA) median daily AQI for 2021 at 84, which is Moderate. 128 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 314.
Which month had the worst air quality in Bakersfield in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 129, 23 days above 100, peak 177).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Bakersfield's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 84 is above the area's typical annual median of 72.
Bakersfield month by month in 2021
Bakersfield air quality month by month, 2021 (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 93 | 11 | 152 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 63 | 2 | 137 | PM2.5 |
| Marchcleanest | 31 | 54 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 63 | 2 | 133 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 71 | 3 | 115 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 82 | 10 | 182 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 105 | 19 | 174 | O3 |
| Augustworst | 31 | 129 | 23 | 177 | O3 |
| September | 30 | 116 | 22 | 253 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 69 | 9 | 314 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 101 | 15 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 88 | 12 | 156 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 84 is above the area's typical annual median of 72.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Bakersfield
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Bakersfield's AQI at 70 (PM10). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Bakersfield air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Bakersfield, CA), 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.