City Guide

Los Angeles AQI planning guide

People in Los Angeles often care less about a single number in isolation and more about whether today's reading changes a drive, a run, or a smoke-season routine.

Start with AQI 105Read the AQI detail page

Planning AQI

105

Berkeley Earth 24-hour comparison

1.69

cigarette-equivalents per day

Category

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Live AQI and forecast

Current observations and forecasts come from the US EPA AirNow network. Current AQI is an area-level NowCast; local smoke shifts can still change conditions quickly.

AirNow

Current reading

62

Moderate

Central LA CO, CA • 2026-08-23 15:00 PST

Peak concern season

Aug-Oct

Wildfire smoke and heat-driven ozone create the biggest day-changing swings.

Repeat-use trigger

Commute + exercise

Morning commutes and afternoon workouts often need separate decisions.

Indoor priority

Bedroom air

When smoke lingers overnight, cleaner sleep air matters more than one daytime reading.

Upcoming forecast

2026-08-23

AQI 56

Moderate

2026-08-24

AQI 58

Moderate

Source note: Live AirNow readings usually reflect the broader metro area well, but traffic corridors and foothill neighborhoods can still feel harsher than the citywide number.

What to do now in Los Angeles

This decision block uses the latest live value when available, otherwise the city planning baseline.

Updated Aug 23, 11:12 PM UTC

Using live AQI

AQI 62

Moderate

About 0.68 cigarettes per 24h at this reading.

Sensitive groups may notice irritation with longer outdoor exposure or exercise.

Shift hard workouts to cleaner hours or indoor spaces.
Limit unnecessary exposure for children and sensitive groups.
Keep a mask and indoor-air plan ready if readings continue rising.

Common planning patterns

Hot afternoons can turn a manageable morning into a worse outdoor window later in the day.
Traffic corridors can feel harsher than the city-wide average.
Wildfire smoke changes the decision from routine pollution management to indoor-air protection.

City planning checklist

  • Check AQI before exercise, not just before commuting.
  • Keep one mask in the car and one at home during smoke season.
  • Use indoor filtration proactively when smoke is forecast nearby.

Useful next pages for this city

These linked pages answer the kinds of follow-up questions people usually have after checking the reading.

Browse more city guides

Commute exposure planner

Use AQI to decide whether a daily commute is routine, cautionary, or worth changing.

Outdoor exercise risk guide

Translate AQI into a clear decision for running, cycling, or training outside.

Wildfire smoke response plan

Use AQI to decide when normal air-quality habits are not enough and smoke response should begin.