Processed on 2024-03-04 14:14:29 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 Washington spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

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.

August in Washington

August 2014 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 794 119 11 0 0 0 36
New 681 232 11 0 0 0 36

August 2015 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 675 177 61 38 1 2 102
New 612 237 63 32 8 2 102

August 2016 – 112 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1075 44 2 0 0 0 127
New 1008 111 2 0 0 0 127

August 2017 – 52 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 765 320 150 67 0 0 106
New 663 407 165 67 0 0 106

August 2018 – 130 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 648 436 190 193 17 4 144
New 524 557 190 180 31 6 144

August 2019 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1621 73 2 0 0 0 128
New 1503 191 2 0 0 0 128

August 2020 – 129 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1635 31 1 0 0 0 125
New 1548 118 1 0 0 0 125

August 2021 – 71 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1457 300 69 125 7 1 121
New 1308 445 71 120 14 1 121

August 2022 – 83 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2005 63 1 0 0 0 139
New 1862 206 1 0 0 0 139

August 2023 – 106 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1656 465 47 67 47 5 113
New 1437 681 50 49 59 11 113