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AirHistory

Tuolumne, California Air Quality

Tuolumne County, California (CA)

Improvingover 10 years

Reviewed by AirHistory Editorial Team · Updated
B
Air Quality Grade
68/100
43
Current Median AQI
Good
41
5-Year Avg AQI
-3
10-Year Change
Better
2
Unhealthy Days/yr
5-year average
Ozone
Primary Pollutant
Ground-Level Ozone

How Tuolumne, California Air Quality Compares

Tuolumne, California's median AQI of 43is 5% worse than the national average of 41. The area averages 2 unhealthy air days per year. The primary pollutant of concern is Ground-Level Ozone.

Tuolumne, California Air Quality: The Full Picture

Tuolumne, California (Tuolumne County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of B (good, scoring 68 out of 100), built from 10 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI fell 3 points between 2014 (46) and 2023 (43), and the five-year median now sits at 41 — inside the "Good" band on the EPA scale.

The pollutant driving most of the area's AQI readings is Ground-Level Ozone. In 2023, it set the daily AQI on 290 of 290 monitored days (100% of the year), making it the controlling pollutant for the B grade. The single worst reading logged that year hit an AQI of 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 61.

In 2023, Tuolumne County recorded 237 "Good" air days (82% of the 290 days with valid AQI data), 51 "Moderate" days, and 2 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged 12 days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse — about 2 per year.

The decade-long trend is improving: median AQI has been dropping by roughly 0.48 points per year. The cleanest year in the record was 2022 (median AQI 39), and the most polluted was 2014 (median AQI 46). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the California county the monitors physically sit in rather than a city boundary.

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10-Year AQI Trend

The solid line shows the median AQI each year. The dashed line shows the 90th percentile (worst 10% of days). This area has seen measurable air quality improvement over the decade.

Air Quality Day Breakdown

Number of days per year in each EPA AQI category. Green = Good (AQI 0-50), Yellow = Moderate (51-100), Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Red = Unhealthy or worse (151+).

Year-by-Year Data

YearMedian AQI90th PctMax AQIGood DaysModerateUnhealthy+Pollutant
20234361112237512Ozone
20223948108237121Ozone
20214161136295632Ozone
20204164143277715Ozone
20194367108273832Ozone
201843801542547321Ozone
2017449314323110625Ozone
2016441081642238645Ozone
201543771262648911Ozone
2014468713321410416Ozone

What This Means for Tuolumne County Residents

Tuolumne, California has received an Air Quality Grade of B (68/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 43 falls in the "Good" range.

Encouragingly, air quality here has been improving, with the median AQI dropping by 3 points over the monitoring period. This trend suggests continued investment in emission controls and cleaner energy.

The primary pollutant affecting this area is Ground-Level Ozone. Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 2 unhealthy air quality days per year, days when sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor activity. The American Lung Association's State of the Air report provides additional context on long-term health risks from air pollution exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuolumne, California has a current median AQI of 43, which falls in the "Good" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of B (68/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.

Air quality in Tuolumne, California is improving over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by -3 points from 2014 to 2023.

Tuolumne, California averages 2 unhealthy air quality days per year over the past 5 years. On these days, sensitive groups including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity.

The primary pollutant affecting Tuolumne, California is Ground-Level Ozone. This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Tuolumne County area.

Tuolumne, California averages 2 unhealthy air days per year. This is relatively low, making it a reasonable choice for asthma sufferers. The primary pollutant is Ground-Level Ozone, which is a known asthma trigger.

With a median AQI of 43 (Good), outdoor exercise in Tuolumne, California is generally safe year-round. Tuolumne, California averages 2 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.

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