Birmingham Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Birmingham's January air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL area. 0.5% of January days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 95.9% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2022 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 53, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 129).
- Good: 39.2%
- Moderate: 60.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Birmingham Homes
Air quality in Birmingham is moderate (AQI 53), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
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How is the air in Birmingham in January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓39.2% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 129.
- ✓Best January: 2022; worst January: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Birmingham in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Birmingham in January was 53 (Moderate). 39.2% of days were Good, 60.4% Moderate, and 0.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is January a good time for outdoor exercise in Birmingham?▾
A typical January day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Birmingham's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 95.9% of January days in Birmingham. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 129 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2020.
Birmingham January air quality, year by year
Birmingham January air quality by year (Birmingham-Hoover, AL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2020worst | 31 | 53 | 1 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 52 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Birmingham
A typical January day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
January's median AQI of 53 is in line with Birmingham's whole-year median of 56, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Birmingham runs above the national January norm; 0.5% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
January is part of Birmingham's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Birmingham
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Birmingham's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Birmingham air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Birmingham-Hoover, AL), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.