Bakersfield Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Bakersfield's May air quality had a median AQI of 67 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Bakersfield, CA area. 14.3% of May days (31 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 84.8% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2019 (median AQI 54, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 84, 8 days above 100, peak AQI 147).
- Good: 24.9%
- Moderate: 60.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 13.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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 May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 67 across 2019–2025, with 14.3% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓24.9% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓31 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 156.
- ✓Best May: 2019; worst May: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Bakersfield in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Bakersfield in May was 67 (Moderate). 24.9% of days were Good, 60.8% Moderate, and 14.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Bakersfield?▾
A typical May day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of May days (14.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Bakersfield's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 84.8% of May days in Bakersfield. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 156 (Unhealthy), in 2025.
Bakersfield May air quality, year by year
Bakersfield May air quality by year (Bakersfield, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 54 | 2 | 119 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 67 | 6 | 156 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 71 | 3 | 115 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 71 | 4 | 136 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 61 | 3 | 122 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 74 | 5 | 122 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 84 | 8 | 147 | O3 |
What May air means in Bakersfield
A typical May day in Bakersfield is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of May days (14.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 67 is below Bakersfield's whole-year median of 72, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Bakersfield runs above the national May norm; 14.3% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Bakersfield's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.