Bakersfield Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Bakersfield's January air quality had a median AQI of 71 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Bakersfield, CA area. 17.5% of January days (38 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.7% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2023 (median AQI 58, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 96, 13 days above 100, peak AQI 153).
- Good: 16.1%
- Moderate: 66.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 15.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 2.3%
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 January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 71 across 2019–2025, with 17.5% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓16.1% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 66.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓38 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 171.
- ✓Best January: 2023; worst January: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Bakersfield in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Bakersfield in January was 71 (Moderate). 16.1% of days were Good, 66.4% Moderate, and 17.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is January a good time for outdoor exercise in Bakersfield?▾
A typical January day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 71): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of January days (17.5%) 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 January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.7% of January days in Bakersfield. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 171 (Unhealthy), in 2022.
Bakersfield January air quality, year by year
Bakersfield January air quality by year (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 64 | 9 | 171 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 72 | 1 | 106 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 93 | 11 | 152 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 96 | 13 | 153 | PM2.5 |
| 2023cleanest | 31 | 58 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 64 | 1 | 106 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 71 | 2 | 105 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Bakersfield
A typical January day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 71): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of January days (17.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
January's median AQI of 71 is in line with Bakersfield's whole-year median of 72, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Bakersfield runs above the national January norm; 17.5% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (above average).
January 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.