Sacramento Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Sacramento's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA area. 11.2% of fall days (71 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.3% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2025 (median AQI 53, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 80, 29 days above 100, peak AQI 243).
- Good: 24.5%
- Moderate: 64.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 7.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 4.1%
Extra Protection for Sacramento Homes
Air quality in Sacramento is moderate (AQI 75), 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
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How is the air in Sacramento in fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 11.2% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓24.5% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓71 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 442.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst month: September.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Sacramento in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Sacramento in fall was 61 (Moderate). 24.5% of days were Good, 64.4% Moderate, and 11.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 637 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is fall a good time for outdoor exercise in Sacramento?▾
A typical fall day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of fall days (11.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Sacramento's fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.3% of fall days in Sacramento. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 442 (Hazardous), in 2020.
Sacramento fall air quality, year by year
Sacramento fall air quality by year (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 91 | 62 | 5 | 136 | O3 |
| 2020worst | 91 | 80 | 29 | 243 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 91 | 69 | 14 | 151 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 91 | 66 | 16 | 442 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 91 | 58 | 1 | 107 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 55 | 5 | 133 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 91 | 53 | 1 | 119 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Sacramento
A typical fall day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of fall days (11.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Fall's median AQI of 61 is in line with Sacramento's whole-year median of 58, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Fall AQI across every EPA metro area (296,275 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Sacramento runs above the national Fall norm; 11.2% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (above average).
Within the season, November is the cleanest month (median AQI 61, 2.4% of days above 100) and September the worst (median 74, 25.8% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Sacramento
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Sacramento's AQI at 75 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Sacramento air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, 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.