Sacramento Air Quality in December
Across 2019–2025, Sacramento's December air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA area. 2.3% of December days (5 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 88.9% of days. The cleanest December on record here was 2019 (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 67, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 116).
- Good: 22.6%
- Moderate: 75.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Sacramento in December?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 2.3% of December days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓22.6% of December days were Good (AQI 0–50), 75.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓5 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the December peak was 118.
- ✓Best December: 2019; worst December: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Sacramento in December?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Sacramento in December was 61 (Moderate). 22.6% of days were Good, 75.1% Moderate, and 2.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is December a good time for outdoor exercise in Sacramento?▾
A typical December day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 43 of December days (2.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Sacramento's December air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 88.9% of December days in Sacramento. The highest December AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 118 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2022.
Sacramento December air quality, year by year
Sacramento December 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 53 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 70 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 67 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 67 | 4 | 116 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 94 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 61 | 1 | 118 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 60 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
What December air means in Sacramento
A typical December day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 43 of December days (2.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
December's median AQI of 61 is in line with Sacramento's whole-year median of 58, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median December AQI across every EPA metro area (95,590 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Sacramento runs above the national December norm; 2.3% of its December days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (above average).
December is part of Sacramento's winter season (December, January, February); the winter 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.