Tucson Air Quality in Spring
Across 2019–2025, Tucson's spring (March–May) air quality had a median AQI of 58 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Tucson, AZ area. 2.2% of spring days (14 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.4% of days. The cleanest spring on record here was 2019 (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 58, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 140).
- Good: 32.1%
- Moderate: 65.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
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 spring?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58 across 2019–2025, with 2.2% of spring days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓32.1% of spring days were Good (AQI 0–50), 65.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓14 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the spring peak was 174.
- ✓Cleanest month: May; worst month: March.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tucson in spring?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tucson in spring was 58 (Moderate). 32.1% of days were Good, 65.7% Moderate, and 2.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is spring a good time for outdoor exercise in Tucson?▾
A typical spring 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 45 of spring days (2.2%) 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 spring air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.4% of spring days in Tucson. The highest spring AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 174 (Unhealthy), in 2021.
Tucson spring air quality, year by year
Tucson spring air quality by year (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 54 | 0 | 89 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 50 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 92 | 58 | 5 | 140 | O3 |
| 2022 | 92 | 57 | 4 | 108 | O3 |
| 2023 | 92 | 60 | 1 | 147 | O3 |
| 2024 | 92 | 58 | 2 | 122 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 63 | 1 | 174 | O3 |
What spring air means in Tucson
A typical spring 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 45 of spring days (2.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Spring'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 Spring AQI across every EPA metro area (307,196 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Tucson runs above the national Spring norm; 2.2% of its Spring days topped AQI 100 versus 0.8% nationally (above average).
Within the season, May is the cleanest month (median AQI 64, 1.8% of days above 100) and March the worst (median 48, 2.8% above 100).
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 season 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.