Fresno, CA Air Quality Today
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 · Data: WeatherAPI • EPA
Air quality in Fresno is Unhealthy today, September 22. Fine particles (PM2.5) are doing most of the work at 79 µg/m³. Trim time outside and move workouts indoors today.
Level 4 of 6 on the EPA scale
What's in Fresno's Air Right Now
PM2.5 (fine particles): 79 µg/m³. Readings above 55 µg/m³ are high for everyone, not just sensitive groups. These particles come from exhaust and smoke and are small enough to reach deep into your lungs.
PM10 (coarse dust): 84 µg/m³. Readings between 54 and 154 µg/m³ rate Moderate, usually from wind stirring up dust. Dust and pollen fragments ride in this size range and irritate your nose and throat.
Ozone: 86 µg/m³. Ozone forms when sunlight cooks car exhaust, so hot afternoons read worst, usually between 2 PM and 7 PM. Mornings stay cleanest.
Nitrogen dioxide: 20.8 µg/m³. NO2 comes almost entirely from traffic and feeds afternoon ozone. Readings run highest near busy roads during the morning and evening commutes.
Is It Safe to Go Outside in Fresno Today?
Keep it brief. Move workouts indoors and keep windows closed in Fresno today. An air purifier helps if you have one.
Kids, older adults, and anyone with a lung or heart condition should stay in as much as possible. A snug N95 helps if you have to be out for long.
One rule holds on any air day: trouble breathing means get medical care now.
Air Quality This Week in Fresno
Air quality in Fresno improves to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups by Wednesday.
Each row is that day's average. Single hours run higher or lower, and the reading at the top of this page is a current measurement rather than an average.
Air Quality and Pollen Are Two Different Numbers
The air quality index tracks pollution: ozone, dust, smoke, and exhaust. Pollen isn't part of the score, so a Good air day in Fresno can still be a rough allergy day.
Right now the biggest pollen load in Fresno is weed pollen, rated High. If your eyes itch while the air reads clean, pollen is the likely culprit.
Check today's Fresno, CA pollen count →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AQI in Fresno right now?
Today's air in Fresno is rated Unhealthy, level 4 of 6 on the EPA scale. That's the fourth of six categories, and healthy people can feel effects too. The reading updates daily, so check back before you head out.
Is it safe to exercise outside in Fresno today?
No. Keep workouts indoors until readings drop out of the Unhealthy range.
What will the air quality be tomorrow in Fresno?
Tomorrow in Fresno the forecast averages Unhealthy, level 4 of 6 on the EPA scale, with fine particles (PM2.5) near 81 µg/m³. That figure is a daily average, so a few hours can run higher or lower than the number here.
Does Fresno have an air quality alert today?
Official alerts come from AirNow.gov and your state air agency, and MyPollenPal doesn't track them directly. Today's EPA category in Fresno is Unhealthy. Days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse usually line up with an official alert.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / AirNow. "AQI Basics." airnow.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Particulate Matter (PM) Basics." epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Ground-level Ozone Basics." epa.gov
Air Quality Is Half the Picture
Pollen fills in the rest. See today's tree, grass, and weed levels for Fresno, or sign up for a morning email on days when pollen runs High or Very High.