Sacramento Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Sacramento's August air quality had a median AQI of 80 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA area. 28.5% of August days (62 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.2% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2025 (median AQI 61, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 154, 23 days above 100, peak AQI 692).
- Good: 12.4%
- Moderate: 59.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 16.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 12.4%
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How is the air in Sacramento in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 80 across 2019–2025, with 28.5% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓12.4% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓62 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 692.
- ✓Best August: 2025; worst August: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Sacramento in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Sacramento in August was 80 (Moderate). 12.4% of days were Good, 59.0% Moderate, and 28.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Sacramento?▾
A typical August day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 80): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of August days (28.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Sacramento's August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 74.2% of August days in Sacramento. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 692 (Hazardous), in 2021.
Sacramento August air quality, year by year
Sacramento August air quality by year (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 67 | 4 | 140 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 100 | 15 | 247 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 154 | 23 | 692 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 80 | 7 | 143 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 74 | 3 | 122 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 80 | 9 | 126 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 61 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
What August air means in Sacramento
A typical August day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 80): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of August days (28.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
August's median AQI of 80 is above Sacramento's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Sacramento runs above the national August norm; 28.5% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).
August is part of Sacramento's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Sacramento
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Sacramento's AQI at 43 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Sacramento air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, 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.