Oakland Air Quality in March

Across 2019–2025, Oakland's March air quality had a median AQI of 43 (Good) over 196 monitored days in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA area. 0.0% of March days (0 of 196) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.3% of days. The cleanest March on record here was 2025 (median AQI 25, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 48, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 59).

43
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 196 days
55
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
65
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
67.3% of days
76.0%
Good days
149 of 196
  • Good: 76.0%
  • Moderate: 24.0%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Oakland in March?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 43 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of March days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 76.0% of March days were Good (AQI 0–50), 24.0% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 196 reached AQI 101+; the March peak was 65.
  • Best March: 2025; worst March: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Oakland in March?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Oakland in March was 43 (Good). 76.0% of days were Good, 24.0% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 196 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is March a good time for outdoor exercise in Oakland?

A typical March day in Oakland sits in the Good range (median AQI 43), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of March days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Oakland's March air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.3% of March days in Oakland. The highest March AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 65 (Moderate), in 2021.

Oakland March air quality, year by year

Oakland March air quality by year (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193144062PM2.5
20203140065PM2.5
2021worst3148059PM2.5
20223144057PM2.5
20233143058O3
20243138059PM2.5
2025cleanest1025032PM2.5

What March air means in Oakland

A typical March day in Oakland sits in the Good range (median AQI 43), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of March days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

March's median AQI of 43 is below Oakland's whole-year median of 53, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median March AQI across every EPA metro area (102,455 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 42, so Oakland runs in line with the national March norm; 0.0% of its March days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).

March 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.