Oakland Air Quality in April
Across 2019–2025, Oakland's April air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 188 monitored days in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA area. 0.5% of April days (1 of 188) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 77.1% of days. The cleanest April on record here was 2020 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 51, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 105).
- Good: 46.3%
- Moderate: 53.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Oakland in April?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of April days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.3% of April days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 188 reached AQI 101+; the April peak was 105.
- ✓Best April: 2020; worst April: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Oakland in April?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Oakland in April was 52 (Moderate). 46.3% of days were Good, 53.2% Moderate, and 0.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 188 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is April a good time for outdoor exercise in Oakland?▾
A typical April day in Oakland is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of April days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Oakland's April air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 77.1% of April days in Oakland. The highest April AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2022.
Oakland April air quality, year by year
Oakland April air quality by year (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 30 | 52 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 30 | 43 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 30 | 58 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 30 | 51 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 30 | 50 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 53 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 8 | 26 | 0 | 55 | PM2.5 |
What April air means in Oakland
A typical April day in Oakland is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of April days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
April's median AQI of 52 is in line with Oakland's whole-year median of 53, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median April AQI across every EPA metro area (100,677 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Oakland runs above the national April norm; 0.5% of its April days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
April is part of Oakland's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Oakland
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Oakland's AQI at 37 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Oakland air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, 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.