Bakersfield Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Bakersfield's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 87 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Bakersfield, CA area. 36.9% of fall days (235 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 44.9% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2025 (median AQI 69, 11 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 111, 61 days above 100, peak AQI 267).
- Good: 7.8%
- Moderate: 55.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 28.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 8.8%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Bakersfield
Today's main pollutant in Bakersfield is ground-level ozone (AQI 74). 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 Bakersfield in fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 87 across 2019–2025, with 36.9% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓7.8% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 55.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓235 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 553.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst month: September.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Bakersfield in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Bakersfield in fall was 87 (Moderate). 7.8% of days were Good, 55.3% Moderate, and 36.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 637 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is fall a good time for outdoor exercise in Bakersfield?▾
A typical fall day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 87): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 3 of fall days (36.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Bakersfield's fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 44.9% of fall days in Bakersfield. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 553 (Hazardous), in 2020.
Bakersfield fall air quality, year by year
Bakersfield fall air quality by year (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 91 | 93 | 33 | 553 | O3 |
| 2020worst | 91 | 111 | 61 | 267 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 91 | 101 | 46 | 314 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 91 | 100 | 45 | 289 | O3 |
| 2023 | 91 | 74 | 15 | 158 | O3 |
| 2024 | 91 | 82 | 24 | 177 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 91 | 69 | 11 | 200 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Bakersfield
A typical fall day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 87): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 3 of fall days (36.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Fall's median AQI of 87 is above Bakersfield's whole-year median of 72, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Fall AQI across every EPA metro area (296,275 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Bakersfield runs above the national Fall norm; 36.9% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (above average).
Within the season, November is the cleanest month (median AQI 81, 25.8% of days above 100) and September the worst (median 100, 49.5% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Bakersfield
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Bakersfield's AQI at 74 (O3). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Bakersfield air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Bakersfield, CA), 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.