Vancouver Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Vancouver's October air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA area. 1.8% of October days (4 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 88.5% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2024 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 63, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 175).
- Good: 45.6%
- Moderate: 52.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.8%
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How is the air in Vancouver in October?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 1.8% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓45.6% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓4 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 175.
- ✓Best October: 2024; worst October: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Vancouver in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Vancouver in October was 52 (Moderate). 45.6% of days were Good, 52.5% Moderate, and 1.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Vancouver?▾
A typical October day in Vancouver is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 56 of October days (1.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Vancouver's October air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 88.5% of October days in Vancouver. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 175 (Unhealthy), in 2022.
Vancouver October air quality, year by year
Vancouver October air quality by year (Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 46 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 63 | 4 | 175 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 46 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
What October air means in Vancouver
A typical October day in Vancouver is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 56 of October days (1.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
October's median AQI of 52 is above Vancouver's whole-year median of 41, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Vancouver runs above the national October norm; 1.8% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
October is part of Vancouver's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Vancouver
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Vancouver's AQI at 32 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Vancouver air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA), 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.