Scottsdale Air Quality in March
Across 2019–2025, Scottsdale's March air quality had a median AQI of 67 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ area. 29.9% of March days (65 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 65.4% of days. The cleanest March on record here was 2023 (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 192, 31 days above 100, peak AQI 221).
- Good: 13.4%
- Moderate: 56.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 25.8%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Scottsdale
Today's main pollutant in Scottsdale is ground-level ozone (AQI 47). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Scottsdale in March?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 67 across 2019–2025, with 29.9% of March days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓13.4% of March days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓65 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the March peak was 579.
- ✓Best March: 2023; worst March: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Scottsdale in March?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Scottsdale in March was 67 (Moderate). 13.4% of days were Good, 56.7% Moderate, and 29.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is March a good time for outdoor exercise in Scottsdale?▾
A typical March day in Scottsdale is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 3 of March days (29.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Scottsdale's March air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 65.4% of March days in Scottsdale. The highest March AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 579 (Hazardous), in 2021.
Scottsdale March air quality, year by year
Scottsdale March air quality by year (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 172 | 29 | 274 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 192 | 31 | 221 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 71 | 1 | 107 | PM10 |
| 2023cleanest | 31 | 54 | 0 | 70 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 52 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 67 | 3 | 579 | O3 |
What March air means in Scottsdale
A typical March day in Scottsdale is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 3 of March days (29.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
March's median AQI of 67 is below Scottsdale's whole-year median of 79, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median March AQI across every EPA metro area (102,455 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 42, so Scottsdale runs above the national March norm; 29.9% of its March days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (above average).
March is part of Scottsdale's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Scottsdale
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Scottsdale's AQI at 47 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Scottsdale air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ), 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.