Metro area air quality · 2024

Bishop, CA

Median AQI 61 (Moderate). 24.6% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

61
Median AQI
24.6%
Good-air days
13
Unhealthy days
2%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2024), 366 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Bishop, CA metro runs moderate on the EPA scale — a median AQI of 61 with 24.6% of 366 monitored days in the Good band.

61
median AQI · Moderate
24.6%
days rated Good
2%
cleaner than US metros
1322
worst single reading

13 days reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2024.

Insights: Bishop, CA metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 61 over 366 measured days in 2024, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Very Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 90 Good days (25%), 246 Moderate (67%), and 17 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (5%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 93 while the highest single-day reading hit 1322 (Hazardous). Metro residents averaged roughly 7.4 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2024 trend window, good days shifted by -68 and the median AQI moved +4 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as worsening. The metro recorded 13 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, on those days the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion, and many schools and athletic programs adjust outdoor activity accordingly. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Albuquerque, NM (27.3% good, AQI 61); Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (27.1% good, AQI 61); Hanford-Corcoran, CA (27.3% good, AQI 60).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

61

Moderate

Good Days

24.6%

90 of 366 days

Max AQI

1322

Hazardous

Health Grade

Very Poor

90th pct: 93

AQI Day Breakdown (2024)

Distribution of 366 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

90

25%

Moderate

246

67%

USG

17

5%

Unhealthy

7

2%

Very Unhealthy

2

1%

Hazardous

4

1%

Health Impact Assessment

Very Poor

The Bishop, CA metro area's air quality is rated Very Poor based on 24.6% good air days. There were 13 unhealthy days in 2024 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality posed significant health risk in 2024. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, pregnant women, and adults over 65, should monitor AirNow.gov alerts and limit outdoor activity on Unhealthy (AQI 151+) and Very Unhealthy (201+) days. Peak readings reached AQI 1322, beyond EPA's standard 0-500 scale, indicating an extreme event.

Sensitive group advisory

People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.

Note: EPA's standard AQI scale caps at 500. The 1322 peak reading represents an extreme event extrapolated beyond the index's design range. See EPA wildfire smoke guidance.

How does the Bishop, CA metro compare?

How Bishop, CA compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Bishop, CA 24.6%
Albuquerque, NM 27.3%
US average 70.2%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Bishop, CA 61
Albuquerque, NM 61
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Bishop, CA 13
Albuquerque, NM 7
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in the Bishop, CA metro. Best year: 2020 (158 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 158 153 16 57
2021 100 223 12 61
2022 117 217 4 58
2023 106 236 3 61
2024 90 246 7 61

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Bishop, CA.

Albuquerque, NM

AQI 61 · 27.3% good

61

Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

AQI 61 · 27.1% good

61

Hanford-Corcoran, CA

AQI 60 · 27.3% good

60

Las Cruces, NM

AQI 62 · 26.5% good

62

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

AQI 59 · 23.5% good

59

El Centro, CA

AQI 63 · 22.7% good

63

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Cleanest Metro Areas

U.S. metros ranked by their share of Good air-quality days.

Worst Air Quality

Counties and metros with the most unhealthy air days.

All Metro Areas

Annual AQI by CBSA for every monitored U.S. metro area.

Best and Worst City Air

What drives urban air quality and how metro areas compare.

Air Quality Guides

Learn more about air quality monitoring, pollutants, and health impacts.

Understanding AQI

What each AQI level means and who is most at risk.

Best & Worst City Air Quality

Metro area air quality rankings and what drives urban pollution.

Health Effects of Air Pollution

How PM2.5 and ozone exposure affects respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Bishop, CA metro area? ▼
The Bishop, CA metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 61, rated "Moderate." 24.6% of monitored days (90 out of 366) had good air quality in 2024.
How many unhealthy air days does Bishop, CA have? ▼
In 2024, the Bishop, CA metro area recorded 13 unhealthy air days (7 Unhealthy, 2 Very Unhealthy, 4 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 1322.
Is air quality in Bishop, CA getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Bishop, CA metro is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2024). Best year: 2020 with 158 good days. Worst year: 2024 with 90 good days.
What does AQI 61 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 61 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Bishop, CA? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Bishop, CA metro area is 93, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 1322 (Hazardous).
How does Bishop, CA compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Bishop, CA metro has 24.6% good air days. Similar metros: Albuquerque, NM (27.3% good), Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (27.1% good), Hanford-Corcoran, CA (27.3% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2024. The AQS collects ambient air monitoring data from state, local, and tribal monitoring agencies across the United States.

Metrics: Air Quality Index (AQI) is calculated using EPA-standard breakpoints for six criteria pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, NO2, CO, and SO2. Median AQI, max AQI, and 90th percentile AQI are computed from daily measurements. Good days percentage reflects days with AQI 0–50.

Coverage: 501 metro areas (Core Based Statistical Areas). Only metros with active monitoring stations are included. Unmonitored areas are not represented.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2024