Air quality in Spokane County during 2024 was good, though not perfect. There were 277 days in the “Good” (Green) category of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and 87 days in the AQI “Moderate” (Yellow) category. Both categories are within the national health-based standards, which is a significant win. However, in November there were 2 days in the AQI “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (Orange) category. A stable weather pattern kept smoke from outdoor fires and wood heating from dispersing. This prompted restrictions on outdoor burning and wood heating. Thankfully, the weather shifted, the smoke cleared, and the restrictions were lifted. The highest daily AQI of 2024 was 106 on November 9th.
Unlike recent summers, wildfire smoke did not have the same major impact on air quality in 2024. Aside from wildfire smoke, another air quality concern during summer is ozone. On July 13th, ozone levels came dangerously close to failing its clean air standard, reaching an AQI of 100—the threshold for any pollutant’s health-based standard.
If you recall seeing an AQI above 106, that was likely a short term snapshot of current conditions, updated hourly here. An example occurred on September 25th. A fast moving dust storm caused an extreme spike in the AQI to 477 (Hazardous). Fortunately, dust storms are typically short-lived, and the 24-hour AQI was 72 (Moderate).
So, how did 2024 fare overall? With only two days exceeding the health standard, it was a strong year for air quality. But as always, there’s room for improvement. Let’s continue working toward even cleaner air in 2025! Ways you can help improve air quality are here!
