The US Cities With The Worst Air to Breathe Right Now
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/07200533/Modeled-Particulate-Matter-Concentration-October-8-150x150.pngThere are currently several severe degradations in air quality impacting large, populated pockets of the country. In several major cities, concentrations of particulate matter are far beyond the safe threshold of 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a 24-hour period.
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In the Pacific Northwest and parts of California, smoke from wildfires are raising particulate matter concentrations to dangerous levels. In Arizona, high winds and loose dust are driving up PM2.5 figures. And while the worst air to breathe right now is mostly concentrated in the West, some parts of the Midwest are experiencing air quality anomalies. A closer look at the data reveals the cities with the worst air quality right now.
To determine the cities with the worst air to breathe right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on particulate matter concentration forecasts from the NOAA’s National Digital Forecast Database. Cities were ranked based on average 24-hour PM2.5 concentration within their boundaries as of October 8, 2025. Spatial averages were calculated using zonal statistics in QGIS, and are based on Census Bureau boundaries. Only cities with at least 35,000 residents were considered.
25. Chino, CA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.3 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 70.7°F
- Total population: 91,008
24. Riverside, CA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.4 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 71.9°F
- Total population: 316,076
23. Chino Hills, CA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.7 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 68.7°F
- Total population: 78,223
22. Lacey, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.7 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.8°F
- Total population: 56,263
21. Yorba Linda, CA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.7 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 68.8°F
- Total population: 68,035
20. Corona, CA
Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 16.8 µg/m³
Current temperature average, October 8: 70.6°F
Total population: 158,346
19. Sammamish, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 17.1 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.6°F
- Total population: 66,586
18. Edmonds, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 17.8 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.7°F
- Total population: 42,705
17. Lynnwood, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 18.1 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.5°F
- Total population: 39,867
16. Maricopa, AZ
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 18.2 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 81.3°F
- Total population: 59,605
15. South Hill, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 18.4 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 60.2°F
- Total population: 67,835
14. Tacoma, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 19.4 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.4°F
- Total population: 219,234
13. Redmond, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 19.5 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.7°F
- Total population: 73,728
12. Auburn, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 19.6 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 60.7°F
- Total population: 85,623
11. Lakewood, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 19.8 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 60.2°F
- Total population: 63,142
10. Bothell, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 19.9 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.0°F
- Total population: 47,917
9. Shoreline, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 20.0 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.8°F
- Total population: 58,673
8. Kirkland, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 21.4 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.5°F
- Total population: 92,015
7. Seattle, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 21.4 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 60.0°F
- Total population: 734,603
6. Puyallup, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 21.5 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.3°F
- Total population: 42,610
5. Bellevue, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 22.3 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.6°F
- Total population: 150,606
4. Kent, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 22.6 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.0°F
- Total population: 135,169
3. Renton, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 22.8 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 61.3°F
- Total population: 105,355
2. Federal Way, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 23.7 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 60.0°F
- Total population: 99,614
1. Wenatchee, WA
- Current PM2.5 concentration, October 8: 40.6 µg/m³
- Current temperature average, October 8: 59.1°F
- Total population: 35,365
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