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AirHistory

Wallowa, Oregon Air Quality

Wallowa County, Oregon (OR)

Stableover 10 years

Reviewed by AirHistory Editorial Team · Updated
B
Air Quality Grade
67/100
25
Current Median AQI
Good
27
5-Year Avg AQI
+2
10-Year Change
Worse
5
Unhealthy Days/yr
5-year average
PM2.5
Primary Pollutant
Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

How Wallowa, Oregon Air Quality Compares

Wallowa, Oregon's median AQI of 25is 39% better than the national average of 41. The area averages 5 unhealthy air days per year. The primary pollutant of concern is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).

Wallowa, Oregon Air Quality: The Full Picture

Wallowa, Oregon (Wallowa County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of B (good, scoring 67 out of 100), built from 10 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI rose 2 points between 2014 (23) and 2023 (25), and the five-year median now sits at 27 — inside the "Good" band on the EPA scale.

The pollutant driving most of the area's AQI readings is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). In 2023, it set the daily AQI on 365 of 365 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 82 (Moderate), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 53.

In 2023, Wallowa County recorded 315 "Good" air days (86% of the 365 days with valid AQI data), 50 "Moderate" days, and 0 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged 26 days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse — about 5 per year.

The decade-long trend is essentially flat, with year-to-year median AQI shifting by less than 0.25 points per year on average. The cleanest year in the record was 2014 (median AQI 23), and the most polluted was 2019 (median AQI 29). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the Oregon 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).

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
2023255382315500PM2.5
20222758195270658PM2.5
202126631622807510PM2.5
20202758222288717PM2.5
20192956103289731PM2.5
20182860118251762PM2.5
20172764177271739PM2.5
2016235578308490PM2.5
20152658185289669PM2.5
20142357121302603PM2.5

What This Means for Wallowa County Residents

Wallowa, Oregon has received an Air Quality Grade of B (67/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 25 falls in the "Good" range.

The primary pollutant affecting this area is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 5 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

Wallowa, Oregon has a current median AQI of 25, which falls in the "Good" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of B (67/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.

Air quality in Wallowa, Oregon is stable over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by +2 points from 2014 to 2023.

Wallowa, Oregon averages 5 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 Wallowa, Oregon is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Wallowa County area.

Wallowa, Oregon averages 5 unhealthy air days per year. This is relatively low, making it a reasonable choice for asthma sufferers. The primary pollutant is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), which is a known asthma trigger.

With a median AQI of 25 (Good), outdoor exercise in Wallowa, Oregon is generally safe year-round. Wallowa, Oregon averages 5 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.

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