Bakersfield Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Bakersfield's July air quality had a median AQI of 105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) over 217 monitored days in the Bakersfield, CA area. 58.6% of July days (127 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 94.0% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2025 (median AQI 90, 12 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 126, 27 days above 100, peak AQI 174).
- Good: 2.8%
- Moderate: 38.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 51.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 7.4%
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
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Bakersfield in July?
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups on a typical day: median AQI 105 across 2019–2025, with 58.6% of July days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓2.8% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 38.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓127 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 219.
- ✓Best July: 2025; worst July: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Bakersfield in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Bakersfield in July was 105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). 2.8% of days were Good, 38.7% Moderate, and 58.6% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Bakersfield?▾
A typical July day in Bakersfield is already Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (median AQI 105): people with asthma or heart disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion on most days, and about 59% of July days (58.6%) were at that level or worse.
Which pollutant causes Bakersfield's July air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 94.0% of July days in Bakersfield. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 219 (Very Unhealthy), in 2024.
Bakersfield July air quality, year by year
Bakersfield July air quality by year (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 97 | 13 | 156 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 101 | 20 | 219 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 105 | 19 | 174 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 108 | 18 | 147 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 105 | 18 | 161 | O3 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 126 | 27 | 174 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 90 | 12 | 147 | O3 |
What July air means in Bakersfield
A typical July day in Bakersfield is already Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (median AQI 105): people with asthma or heart disease, children and older adults should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion on most days, and about 59% of July days (58.6%) were at that level or worse.
July's median AQI of 105 is above Bakersfield's whole-year median of 72, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Bakersfield runs above the national July norm; 58.6% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
July is part of Bakersfield's summer season (June, July, August); the summer 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.