Tucson Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Tucson's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 632 monitored days in the Tucson, AZ area. 1.3% of winter days (8 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.6% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2019 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 54, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 251).
- Good: 48.9%
- Moderate: 49.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.1%
- 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 winter?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 1.3% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓48.9% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 49.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓8 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 251.
- ✓Cleanest month: December; worst month: January.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tucson in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tucson in winter was 51 (Moderate). 48.9% of days were Good, 49.8% Moderate, and 1.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Tucson?▾
A typical winter day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 77 of winter days (1.3%) 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 winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.6% of winter days in Tucson. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 251 (Very Unhealthy), in 2025.
Tucson winter air quality, year by year
Tucson winter air quality by year (Tucson, AZ, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 90 | 43 | 0 | 68 | O3 |
| 2020 | 91 | 45 | 2 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 55 | 2 | 128 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 90 | 51 | 1 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 51 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 50 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2025worst | 90 | 54 | 3 | 251 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Tucson
A typical winter day in Tucson is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 77 of winter days (1.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Winter's median AQI of 51 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 Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Tucson runs above the national Winter norm; 1.3% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, December is the cleanest month (median AQI 54, 0.5% of days above 100) and January the worst (median 51, 2.3% 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.