Scottsdale Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Scottsdale's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 98 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ area. 47.6% of summer days (307 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 66.0% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2025 (median AQI 84, 19 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 138, 60 days above 100, peak AQI 1194).
- Good: 1.6%
- Moderate: 50.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 33.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 14.4%
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
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Scottsdale in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 98 across 2019–2025, with 47.6% of summer days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓1.6% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 50.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓307 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 1194.
- ✓Cleanest month: June; worst month: August.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Scottsdale in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Scottsdale in summer was 98 (Moderate). 1.6% of days were Good, 50.8% Moderate, and 47.6% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Scottsdale?▾
A typical summer day in Scottsdale is Moderate (median AQI 98): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 2 of summer days (47.6%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 66.0% of summer days in Scottsdale. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 1194 (Hazardous), in 2020.
Scottsdale summer air quality, year by year
Scottsdale summer 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 | 92 | 93 | 35 | 929 | O3 |
| 2020worst | 92 | 138 | 60 | 1194 | O3 |
| 2021 | 92 | 102 | 48 | 203 | O3 |
| 2022 | 92 | 101 | 48 | 689 | O3 |
| 2023 | 92 | 101 | 50 | 709 | O3 |
| 2024 | 92 | 101 | 47 | 337 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 92 | 84 | 19 | 647 | O3 |
What summer air means in Scottsdale
A typical summer day in Scottsdale is Moderate (median AQI 98): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 2 of summer days (47.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 98 is above Scottsdale's whole-year median of 79, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Scottsdale runs above the national Summer norm; 47.6% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, June is the cleanest month (median AQI 97, 44.3% of days above 100) and August the worst (median 101, 50.7% above 100).
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 season 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.