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 (Sat, Jan 17)
97 AQI - Moderate
Tomorrow (Sun, Jan 18)
94 AQI - Moderate

Yesterday's High Extended AQI Outlook
Fri, Jan 16
54 AQI - Moderate
Ozone
Mon, Jan 19
Moderate
Tue, Jan 20
Moderate
Wed, Jan 21
Moderate

Air Quality Forecast and Weather Discussion
Friday and Saturday, an upper-level ridge of high pressure will gradually shift into northern California, reducing atmospheric mixing. At the surface, calm to light northerly winds will persist, hindering dispersion and allowing pollutants to linger in the Sacramento Valley. Additionally, a strong temperature inversion Friday night into Saturday morning will trap pollutants near the ground. Thus, particle levels will be high-Moderate on both days. Sunday, atmospheric mixing will improve slightly as the upper-level ridge shifts southward. However, calm to light north-northwesterly surface winds will continue to inhibit dispersion. Furthermore, a strong morning temperature inversion will confine pollutants at the surface. These conditions, combined with pollutant carryover from the previous days, will keep particle levels high-Moderate.