Tucson Air Quality in April
Across 2019–2025, Tucson's April air quality had a median AQI of 60 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Tucson, AZ area. 1.9% of April days (4 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.8% of days. The cleanest April on record here was 2020 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 59, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 140).
- Good: 26.2%
- Moderate: 71.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Tucson
Today's main pollutant in Tucson is ground-level ozone (AQI 35). 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 Tucson in April?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 60 across 2019–2025, with 1.9% of April days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓26.2% of April days were Good (AQI 0–50), 71.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓4 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the April peak was 140.
- ✓Best April: 2020; worst April: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tucson in April?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tucson in April was 60 (Moderate). 26.2% of days were Good, 71.9% Moderate, and 1.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is April a good time for outdoor exercise in Tucson?▾
A typical April day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 60): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 53 of April days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Tucson's April air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.8% of April days in Tucson. The highest April AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 140 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Tucson April air quality, year by year
Tucson April air quality by year (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 54 | 0 | 89 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 30 | 51 | 0 | 92 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 30 | 59 | 2 | 140 | O3 |
| 2022 | 30 | 58 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2023 | 30 | 69 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2024 | 30 | 63 | 1 | 122 | O3 |
| 2025 | 30 | 63 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
What April air means in Tucson
A typical April day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 60): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 53 of April days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
April's median AQI of 60 is above Tucson's whole-year median of 54, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median April AQI across every EPA metro area (100,677 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Tucson runs above the national April norm; 1.9% of its April days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (above average).
April is part of Tucson's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Tucson
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Tucson's AQI at 35 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Tucson air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Tucson, 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.