Processed on 2024-03-04 12:49:45 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in California spent in each AQI category during the the month of May.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

May in California

May 2014 – 116 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1458 271 3 2 0 0 122
New 1117 612 3 2 0 0 122

May 2015 – 136 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1888 190 0 0 0 0 130
New 1497 581 0 0 0 0 130

May 2016 – 264 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1871 215 2 0 0 0 216
New 1474 612 2 0 0 0 216

May 2017 – 165 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2326 414 3 0 0 0 265
New 1848 891 4 0 0 0 265

May 2018 – 289 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2441 331 1 0 1 0 266
New 1937 835 1 0 1 0 266

May 2019 – 166 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2747 156 1 0 0 0 360
New 2436 467 1 0 0 0 360

May 2020 – 362 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2656 234 0 0 0 0 278
New 2322 568 0 0 0 0 278

May 2021 – 220 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2879 442 2 1 0 0 228
New 2276 1045 2 1 0 0 228

May 2022 – 237 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2867 456 4 2 0 0 255
New 2410 913 4 2 0 0 255

May 2023 – 437 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 3380 292 1 1 0 0 358
New 2982 690 1 1 0 0 358