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Learn about the Air District's air monitoring network and activities, including laboratory support, data quality assurance, and pollutant source testing.

Get daily forecasts of air quality and weather factors that affect air pollution potential in the Bay Area.

Learn about the Air District's process, methods, and goals for developing air quality management plans for the Bay Area.

Frequently Asked Questions - Air Quality

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Wednesday, July 27. Winds are forecast to transport smoke from the Oak Fire in Mariposa County into the Bay Area through Wednesday; however, the smoke is expected to remain aloft. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible across the Bay Area and the smell of smoke is possible at higher elevations. Air quality is forecast to be in the good to moderate range on the air quality index and pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect.

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Thursday, July 28. Winds are continuing to transport smoke from the Oak Fire in Mariposa County into the Bay Area; however, smoke is expected to remain aloft. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible across the Bay Area and the smell of smoke is possible at higher elevations. Air quality is forecast to be in the good to moderate range on the air quality index and pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Thursday, August 31. A Spare the Air Alert is also in effect for today, Wednesday, August 30. Smoke from numerous fires in Northern California and Oregon is expected to impact air quality throughout the Bay Area through tomorrow, causing air quality to reach high-moderate on the U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible and the smell of smoke is possible. Pollutant levels are NOT expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard and there is no Spare the Air Alert in effect for Thursday.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Saturday, August 21. Smoke from wildfires in Washington, Oregon and Northern California, that moved offshore over the past couple of days, will continue to impact the Bay Area on Saturday. Lingering, lofted smoke over the Bay Area will cause hazy and smoky skies but pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards. Air quality is expected to be in the good to low-moderate range on the Air Quality Index, so no Spare the Air Alert is in effect for Saturday. A Spare the Air Alert remains in effect for today, Friday, August 20. 

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Monday, September 6. Smoke from wildfires in Northern California is expected to continue to cause hazy and smoky skies across the Bay Area through Monday. Air quality is expected to generally be in the moderate range on the Air Quality Index. Higher concentrations of smoke may intermittently mix to the surface at times, but pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and no Spare the Air is in effect. 

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Sunday, August 20. Smoke from numerous fires in northern California is impacting air quality over far northwestern California. Wind patterns are helping to keep smoke away from the Bay Area today through most of the day on Sunday. However, some smoke is predicted to reach the North Bay by late Sunday afternoon, causing air quality to reach low-Moderate on the U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible in the North Bay and the smell of smoke is possible at higher elevations. Pollutant levels are NOT expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard and there is no Spare the Air Alert in effect.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Friday and Saturday, August 27 and 28. Smoke from wildfires across California is predicted to impact the Bay Area on Friday and Saturday. Lofted smoke is expected to cause hazy and smoky skies, but pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and no Spare the Air Alert is in effect. Air quality is expected to be in the moderate range on the Air Quality Index. 

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke from wildfires in the western U.S and Canada for the rest of the day Thursday, August 8, and for Friday, August 9. An inversion layer combined with local pollution and residual smoke from fires in the western U.S. and Canada is impacting air quality in the Bay Area. As onshore winds increase this afternoon and Friday, air quality is expected to be Good to Moderate on the Air Quality Index.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Thursday, September 2, and Friday, September 3. Smoke from wildfires in northern California is predicted to cause hazy and smoky skies across the Bay Area on Thursday and Friday. Pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and no Spare the Air Alert is in effect. However, smoke may mix to the surface at times causing intermittent and isolated pockets of elevated pollution levels. Air quality is expected to be in the good to moderate range on the Air Quality Index.

View reports summarizing the air quality and pollutant data collected from the Bay Area's air quality monitoring network each year.

Learn about the Air District's complaint program and investigation process.

View air quality complaints that have been received and investigated by the Air District in the past year.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke from the Park Fire in Northern California for today, Sunday, July 28, and tomorrow, Monday, July 29. Smoke from the Park Fire is expected to impact air quality in parts of the Bay Area today and tomorrow. Hazy skies may be visible and the smell of smoke is possible at high elevations. Air quality is expected to remain in the Good to Moderate categories on the Air Quality Index.

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.

These resources can assist practitioners in evaluating air quality and climate impacts during the environmental review process pursuant to CEQA. The tools, data, methodologies, and guidance provided do not represent an exhaustive list and should be used in conjunction with other resources.

Learn about the Wildfire Air Quality Response Program, which was developed by the Air District to help mitigate the effect of wildfires on air quality in the Bay Area.