Sacramento Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Sacramento's July air quality had a median AQI of 77 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA area. 23.9% of July days (52 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 88.0% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2025 (median AQI 58, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 101, 16 days above 100, peak AQI 164).

77
Median AQI
Moderate
23.9%
Days above AQI 100
52 of 217 days
126
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
164
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
O3
Main pollutant
88.0% of days
11.5%
Good days
25 of 217
  • Good: 11.5%
  • Moderate: 64.5%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 23.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Sacramento in July?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 77 across 2019–2025, with 23.9% of July days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 11.5% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.5% Moderate (51–100).
  • 52 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 164.
  • Best July: 2025; worst July: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Sacramento in July?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Sacramento in July was 77 (Moderate). 11.5% of days were Good, 64.5% Moderate, and 23.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Sacramento?

A typical July day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 77): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of July days (23.9%) 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 July air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 88.0% of July days in Sacramento. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 164 (Unhealthy), in 2021.

Sacramento July air quality, year by year

Sacramento July air quality by year (Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
201931744129O3
202031803157O3
2021worst3110116164O3
202231808119O3
202331807143O3
2024319312140O3
2025cleanest31582143O3

What July air means in Sacramento

A typical July day in Sacramento is Moderate (median AQI 77): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of July days (23.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

July's median AQI of 77 is above Sacramento's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Sacramento runs above the national July norm; 23.9% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).

July 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.