Oakland Air Quality in 2022
In 2022, Oakland's air quality (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA area) had a median daily AQI of 53 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 5 days (1.4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 143 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 129 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 283 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was July (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 57, 2 days above 100, peak 129).
- Good: 39.2%
- Moderate: 59.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Oakland, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How was Oakland's air quality in 2022?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53, with 5 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 6 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2022: 129 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 283 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: July; worst: September.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Oakland in 2022?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Oakland's (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA) median daily AQI for 2022 at 53, which is Moderate. 5 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 129.
Which month had the worst air quality in Oakland in 2022?▾
The cleanest month of 2022 was July (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 57, 2 days above 100, peak 129).
Was 2022 a good or bad year for Oakland's air?▾
Among the 6 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2024), 2022 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2022's median of 53 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 53.
Oakland month by month in 2022
Oakland air quality month by month, 2022 (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 60 | 0 | 86 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 55 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 44 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 51 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 53 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 53 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| Julycleanest | 31 | 43 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 50 | 1 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| Septemberworst | 30 | 57 | 2 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 57 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 53 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 56 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
How 2022 compares
Among the 6 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2024), 2022 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2022's median of 53 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 53.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Oakland
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Oakland's AQI at 47 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Oakland air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, 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.