Anchorage Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Anchorage's August air quality had a median AQI of 18 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Anchorage, AK area. 2.3% of August days (5 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 71.0% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 10, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 53, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 163).
- Good: 91.7%
- Moderate: 6.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.8%
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How is the air in Anchorage in August?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 18 across 2019–2025, with 2.3% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓91.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 6.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓5 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 163.
- ✓Best August: 2022; worst August: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Anchorage in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Anchorage in August was 18 (Good). 91.7% of days were Good, 6.0% Moderate, and 2.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Anchorage?▾
A typical August day in Anchorage sits in the Good range (median AQI 18), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 43 of August days (2.3%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Anchorage's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 71.0% of August days in Anchorage. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 163 (Unhealthy), in 2019.
Anchorage August air quality, year by year
Anchorage August air quality by year (Anchorage, AK, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 31 | 53 | 5 | 163 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 16 | 0 | 39 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 18 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 10 | 0 | 19 | PM10 |
| 2023 | 31 | 17 | 0 | 51 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 18 | 0 | 34 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 18 | 0 | 46 | PM10 |
What August air means in Anchorage
A typical August day in Anchorage sits in the Good range (median AQI 18), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 43 of August days (2.3%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
August's median AQI of 18 is below Anchorage's whole-year median of 27, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Anchorage runs below the national August norm; 2.3% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).
August is part of Anchorage's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Anchorage
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Anchorage's AQI at 18 (PM10). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Anchorage air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Anchorage, AK), 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.