Tacoma Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Tacoma's August air quality had a median AQI of 47 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area. 3.7% of August days (8 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 66.4% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2025 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 52, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 175).
- Good: 58.1%
- Moderate: 38.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Tacoma, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Tacoma in August?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 47 across 2019–2025, with 3.7% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓58.1% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 38.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓8 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 175.
- ✓Best August: 2025; worst August: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Tacoma in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Tacoma in August was 47 (Good). 58.1% of days were Good, 38.2% Moderate, and 3.7% 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 Tacoma?▾
A typical August day in Tacoma sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 27 of August days (3.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Tacoma's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 66.4% of August days in Tacoma. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 175 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Tacoma August air quality, year by year
Tacoma August air quality by year (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 46 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 44 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 46 | 2 | 148 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 48 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 52 | 4 | 175 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
What August air means in Tacoma
A typical August day in Tacoma sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 27 of August days (3.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
August's median AQI of 47 is in line with Tacoma's whole-year median of 49, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Tacoma runs in line with the national August norm; 3.7% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (about the same).
August is part of Tacoma's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Tacoma
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Tacoma's AQI at 41 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Tacoma air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA), 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.