Bakersfield Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, Bakersfield's February air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 198 monitored days in the Bakersfield, CA area. 4.5% of February days (9 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.8% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2024 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 69, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 134).
- Good: 30.3%
- Moderate: 65.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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.
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How is the air in Bakersfield in February?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 4.5% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓30.3% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 65.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓9 days of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 137.
- ✓Best February: 2024; worst February: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Bakersfield in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Bakersfield in February was 57 (Moderate). 30.3% of days were Good, 65.2% Moderate, and 4.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 198 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is February a good time for outdoor exercise in Bakersfield?▾
A typical February day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 22 of February days (4.5%) 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 February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.8% of February days in Bakersfield. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 137 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2022.
Bakersfield February air quality, year by year
Bakersfield February air quality by year (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 28 | 45 | 1 | 127 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 29 | 63 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 28 | 63 | 2 | 137 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 28 | 69 | 5 | 134 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 55 | 1 | 111 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 29 | 47 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 28 | 55 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in Bakersfield
A typical February day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 22 of February days (4.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
February's median AQI of 57 is below Bakersfield's whole-year median of 72, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median February AQI across every EPA metro area (87,428 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 41, so Bakersfield runs above the national February norm; 4.5% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (above average).
February is part of Bakersfield's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
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 month 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.