The Air District is issuing the winter season’s first Spare the Air Alerts for Wednesday, November 26, and Thanksgiving Day, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.
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Santa Clara County
Learn about Santa Clara County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Santa Clara County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
Latest News
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Public Comment Deadline – Draft Local Community Benefits Fund Guidelines (Nov 25 at 5 PM)November 19, 2025
The public comment period for the Draft Guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund for Benicia, Richmond, and surrounding areas closes on Tuesday, November 25, at 5:00 PM. The Draft Guidelines describe the Local Community Benefits Fund, which will reinvest penalty funds back into communities impacted by air quality violations, supporting local projects that improve public health, reduce pollution, and promote a just transition.
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The Air District is announcing the launch of its Commercial Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Program, a pilot grant program designed to reduce air pollution by replacing gasoline and diesel-powered landscaping equipment with cleaner, zero-emission electric alternatives.
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The Air District showcased the Bay Area’s leadership in clean air, climate innovation, and equity at the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP30, held in Belém, Brazil from November 10 through November 21. During a virtual media availability on November 13, Air District leadership reflected on the importance of local and regional action to drive global climate progress.
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October 27, 2025
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Upcoming Events
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Other News Articles
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10/22/2025 Air District awards $5M to electrify special education school buses
October 22, 2025
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10/17/2025 Air District issues prescribed burn notice for October 17 - 24, 2025
October 17, 2025
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10/9/2025 Air District fines Marathon Martinez Refinery $372,550 for violations
October 9, 2025
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10/1/2025 Air District Board adopts wood burning and prescribed burning amendments to protect public health and reduce wildfire risk
October 1, 2025
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9/27/2025 Air District issues air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Sunday
September 27, 2025
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9/25/2025 Air District receives first finance award for excellence in budget process
September 25, 2025
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9/22/2025 Air District issues Spare the Air Alert for Tuesday
September 22, 2025
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9/15/2025 Air District awards $1.18 million to San Ramon Valley Unified School District for new EV school buses, charging infrastructure
September 15, 2025
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9/11/2025 Air District opens Clean Cars for All program with $10 million in funding
September 11, 2025
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9/10/2025 Air District strengthens leadership team, staffing to deliver on permitting priorities & strategic goals
September 10, 2025
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9/2/2025 Air District fines Chemtrade West US LLC $160,000 for air quality violations
September 2, 2025
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8/26/2025 Air District lifts air quality advisory for wildfire smoke
August 26, 2025
Santa Clara County is south of the San Francisco Bay, with San Mateo and Alameda counties bordering it to the north, Santa Cruz County to the west, San Benito County to the south, and Stanislaus and Merced counties to the east. Four Santa Clara County representatives sit on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
Climate
During the summer, mostly clear skies result in warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Winter temperatures are mild, except for very cool but generally frost-less mornings.
Further inland where the moderating effect of the bay is not as strong, temperature extremes are greater. Wind patterns are influenced by local terrain, with a northwesterly sea breeze typically developing during the daytime. Winds are usually stronger in the spring and summer. Rainfall amounts are modest, ranging from 13 inches in the lowlands to 20 inches in the hills.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Air Quality in Santa Clara County
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
Most of Santa Clara County is well south of the cooler waters of the San Francisco Bay and far from the cooler marine air which usually reaches across San Mateo County in summer. Ozone frequently forms on hot summer days when the prevailing seasonal northerly winds carry ozone precursors southward across the county, causing health standards to be exceeded.
Santa Clara County experiences many exceedances of the PM2.5 standard each winter. This is due to the high population density, wood smoke, industrial and freeway traffic, and poor wintertime air circulation caused by extensive hills to the east and west that block wind flow into the region.
Spare the Air Status
Last Updated: 4/21/2017