Tucson Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Tucson's August air quality had a median AQI of 58 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Tucson, AZ area. 6.0% of August days (13 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 79.7% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2019 (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 64, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 126).
- Good: 29.5%
- Moderate: 64.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 5.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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 August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58 across 2019–2025, with 6.0% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓29.5% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓13 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 162.
- ✓Best August: 2019; worst August: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tucson in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tucson in August was 58 (Moderate). 29.5% of days were Good, 64.5% Moderate, and 6.0% 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 Tucson?▾
A typical August day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 17 of August days (6.0%) 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 August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 79.7% of August days in Tucson. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 162 (Unhealthy), in 2020.
Tucson August air quality, year by year
Tucson August air quality by year (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 54 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2020worst | 31 | 64 | 6 | 126 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 50 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 58 | 3 | 108 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 61 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 67 | 2 | 162 | O3 |
What August air means in Tucson
A typical August day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 17 of August days (6.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
August's median AQI of 58 is above Tucson's whole-year median of 54, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Tucson runs above the national August norm; 6.0% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).
August is part of Tucson's summer season (June, July, August); the summer 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.