Median AQI
17
Good
California · County air quality · 2025
Lake County, California
Median AQI 17 (Good). 100.0% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 17
- Median AQI
- 100.0%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 96%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Lake County's air is good on balance, among the cleanest 5% of US counties, a median AQI of 17 with 100.0% of 34 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 17
- median AQI · Good
- 100.0%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 96%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 32.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 34 d · 100.0%
How did Lake County's air break down in 2025?
Across 34 monitored days, 34 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 32 (Good).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 34 days monitored. Median AQI: 17 (Good).
Insights: Lake County, California. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 17 across 34 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Excellent health grade. Of those days, 34 (100%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 0 (0%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 29, while the worst single-day peak hit 32 (Good). Residents averaged about 30.0 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (30 days), PM10 (4 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -307 and the median AQI moved -15 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 32, good but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Amador (84.8% good, AQI 40); Butte (66.1% good, AQI 47); Calaveras (73.9% good, AQI 43); Colusa (84.9% good, AQI 39); Del Norte (81.0% good, AQI 33); El Dorado (85.8% good, AQI 39).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
100.0%
34 of 34 monitored days
25.0pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
32
Good
Health Grade
Excellent
90th-pct AQI 29
Lake County, Good days share 100.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Lake County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days above AQI 150 (Unhealthy or worse). Bar maxes at 10% (worst-county ceiling).
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 34 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
34
100%
Moderate
0
0%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Lake County.
- PM2.5 · 30 days · 88.2%
- PM10 · 4 days · 11.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Excellent
Lake County's air quality is rated Excellent based on 100.0% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 100.0% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 17. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 30 of 34 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Lake County. Best year: 2024 (361 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 341 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 190 |
| 2021 | 348 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 157 |
| 2022 | 359 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 76 |
| 2023 | 357 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 67 |
| 2024 | 361 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 67 |
| 2025 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 32 |
How does Lake County compare?
How Lake County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Lake County 100.0%
Amador County, California 84.8%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI better than US avg
Lake County 17
Amador County, California 40
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Lake County 0
Amador County, California 0
US average 0
Other Counties in California
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in California.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Lake County.
Chaves County, New Mexico
AQI 16 · 94.4% good
Garfield County, Washington
AQI 18 · 95.9% good
Guayama County, Puerto Rico
AQI 18 · 100.0% good
Lewis County, Washington
AQI 18 · 93.3% good
Marquette County, Michigan
AQI 18 · 87.0% good
Phillips County, Montana
AQI 18 · 94.2% good
What Lake County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM2.5 the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 17 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Lake County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Lake County with its California neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of California
Based on 34 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
More Air Quality Data
Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Lake County, California? ▼
Lake County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 17, rated "Good." 100.0% of monitored days (34 out of 34) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Lake County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Lake County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 30 days (88% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Lake County have? ▼
In 2025, Lake County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 32.
Is the air quality in Lake County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Lake County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 361 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 34 good days.
What does AQI 17 mean for health? ▼
Lake County's median AQI of 17 falls in the "Good" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Lake County compare to other counties in California? ▼
Lake County has 100.0% good air days. Nearby counties in California: Amador (84.8% good), Butte (66.1% good), Calaveras (73.9% good), Colusa (84.9% good), Del Norte (81.0% good), El Dorado (85.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Lake County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Lake County is 29, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 32 (Good).
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset, 2020–2025 (aqs.epa.gov). For current conditions (not shown here — this page is historical annual data), see EPA AirNow (airnow.gov). See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.
Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.