About the Air District

Solano County

Learn about Solano County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Solano County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.

Latest News
  • The Air District and Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson filed a joint civil lawsuit against Radius Recycling, formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries, for air quality violations related to the fire at the company’s facility in West Oakland on August 9-10, 2023. In addition, previous enforcement actions by the Air District and the district attorney required Radius Recycling to install new equipment that has eliminated hundreds of tons of air pollution and reduced cancer risk by 84 percent since 2022; today the Air District finalized the operating permit for this important equipment. 

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  • The Air District is lifting an air quality advisory for the Bay Area due to wildfire smoke that was originally scheduled to last through today, Monday, July 14. Over the weekend, smoke from the Butler and Green wildfires had been moving down the Sacramento Valley and impacting air quality in portions of the Bay Area. However, as of Monday morning, the Bay Area is experiencing strong onshore winds, and smoke has remained mostly outside of the region. Air quality has been in the Good Air Quality Index category. Moderate onshore winds are expected to continue into Tuesday, keeping the smoke outside of the Bay Area. As the week progresses, these onshore winds will turn southerly in northern California, and this also is expected to keep the smoke from moving towards our region.

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  • The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for the Bay Area due to wildfire smoke from fires in northern Sacramento Valley through Monday, July 14. Smoke from the Butler and Green wildfires is still moving down the Sacramento Valley and is expected to continue to impact air quality in portions of the Bay Area on Sunday and Monday. Areas that are expected to be most impacted will be parts of the North Bay and East Bay and higher elevation locations. Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict. The public can check for real-time smoke pollution levels in their local area with the U.S. EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map.  Smoky, hazy skies may be visible, the smell of smoke is possible and air quality may become unhealthy at times on Sunday and Monday

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  • The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for the Bay Area due to wildfire smoke from fires in northern Sacramento Valley through Saturday, July 12. Smoke from the Butler and Green wildfires is moving down the Sacramento Valley and is expected to continue to impact air quality in portions of the Bay Area on Saturday. Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict. The public can check for real-time smoke pollution levels in their local area with the U.S. EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible, the smell of smoke is possible and air quality may become unhealthy at times on Saturday

     
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Other News Articles

Solano County is bordered by Napa and Yolo counties to the north, Sacramento County to the east, and San Pablo Bay to the south. The Air District only has jurisdiction over the southwestern portion of the county, which includes Vallejo and Fairfield. One Solano County representative sits on the Air District’s Board of Directors.

Climate

During summer and fall months, high pressure offshore, coupled with thermal low pressure in the Central Valley, draws marine air eastward through the Carquinez Strait almost daily. Temperatures along the coast and inland tend to remain moderate. Winter temperatures range from cool overnight to moderate during the day, while summer temperatures range from moderate overnight to warm during the day. Afternoon westerly winds are common in the southern portion of the county, along the Carquinez Strait. Annual rainfall totals range from 13 inches near the coast to 22 inches inland in Fairfield. 

Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map

Air Quality in Solano 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.

In summer, most of Solano County is exposed to prevailing westerly winds through the Carquinez Strait, which mixes and reduces ozone levels by drawing cooler, marine air from the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay eastward. However, when the marine flow is weak or nonexistent, ozone levels may exceed health standards on a few days each year, mainly east of Suisun City.

In Solano County, PM2.5 concentrations can become elevated enough to exceed health standards during the winter when air pollution is transported from the Central Valley due to prevailing easterly winds. Local residential wood burning can also cause elevated particulate levels on cold, calm evenings during winter.

Interactive Air Quality Forecast Map

Spare the Air Status

Last Updated: 4/21/2017