Do You Know Current Air Pollution Levels?
Check air quality conditions before you go outside to help protect your health. Exposure to high air pollution levels can cause immediate and severe health issues including respiratory illness, heart and lung stress, and damaged respiratory cells. Some individuals are more vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung conditions, such as asthma.

Mark your calendar for May 1, when the Sacramento region's Spare The Air Program will begin. From May 1 to October 31 each year, when the AQI is forecast to reach 126 or higher for ground-level ozone a Spare The Air alert is issued. On Spare The Air days, residents are asked to reduce their driving.

Sacramento Region PM2.5 Air Quality Forecast updated by noon
Today (Wed, Dec 4)
107 AQI - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Tomorrow (Thu, Dec 5)
102 AQI - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Yesterday's High Extended AQI Outlook
Wed, Dec 4
89 AQI - Moderate
PM2.5
Fri, Dec 6
Moderate
Sat, Dec 7
Moderate
Sun, Dec 8
Moderate

Air Quality Forecast and Weather Discussion
Wednesday and Thursday, surface high pressure over Idaho and the Great Basin will produce calm to light winds throughout the two-day period, inhibiting pollutant dispersion in the Sacramento region. In addition, strong temperature inversions will develop each evening and persist through the overnight hours, trapping regional emissions at the surface. Furthermore, patchy fog on Thursday morning will enhance particle formation. These conditions, combined with high pollutant carryover from day to day, will yield Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups particle levels on both days. Friday, as surface high pressure remains over Idaho, calm to light and variable winds will reduce dispersion, allowing regional emissions to accumulate. Additionally, a strong morning temperature inversion will confine pollutants near the ground, and patchy morning fog will enhance particle production. As a result, particle levels will be high-Moderate.