Tucson Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Tucson's October air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Tucson, AZ area. 1.4% of October days (3 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and coarse dust (PM10) set the daily AQI on 36.4% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2019 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 58, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 103).
- Good: 37.8%
- Moderate: 60.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
- 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 October?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of October days above AQI 100. Coarse dust (PM10) is the main driver.
- ✓37.8% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓3 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 148.
- ✓Best October: 2019; worst October: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tucson in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tucson in October was 53 (Moderate). 37.8% of days were Good, 60.8% Moderate, and 1.4% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Tucson?▾
A typical October day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of October days (1.4%) 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 October air quality problems?▾
Coarse dust (PM10) set the daily AQI on 36.4% of October days in Tucson. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 148 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2024.
Tucson October air quality, year by year
Tucson October air quality by year (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 66 | PM10 |
| 2020 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 83 | PM10 |
| 2021 | 31 | 54 | 1 | 148 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 66 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 55 | 1 | 124 | PM10 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 58 | 1 | 103 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 77 | O3 |
What October air means in Tucson
A typical October day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of October days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
October's median AQI of 53 is in line with Tucson's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Tucson runs above the national October norm; 1.4% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
October is part of Tucson's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.