Fresno Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Fresno's January air quality had a median AQI of 74 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Fresno, CA area. 17.5% of January days (38 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.7% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2024 (median AQI 62, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 96, 13 days above 100, peak AQI 145).
- Good: 13.8%
- Moderate: 68.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 16.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.4%
Extra Protection for Fresno Homes
Air quality in Fresno is moderate (AQI 69), with particle pollution 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 Fresno in January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 74 across 2019–2025, with 17.5% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓13.8% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 68.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓38 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 278.
- ✓Best January: 2024; worst January: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Fresno in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Fresno in January was 74 (Moderate). 13.8% of days were Good, 68.7% Moderate, and 17.5% 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 Fresno?▾
A typical January day in Fresno is Moderate (median AQI 74): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of January days (17.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Fresno's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 91.7% of January days in Fresno. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 278 (Very Unhealthy), in 2022.
Fresno January air quality, year by year
Fresno January air quality by year (Fresno, CA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 64 | 8 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 70 | 3 | 130 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 87 | 8 | 278 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 96 | 13 | 145 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 31 | 62 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 86 | 5 | 157 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Fresno
A typical January day in Fresno is Moderate (median AQI 74): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of January days (17.5%) 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 74 is above Fresno's whole-year median of 67, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Fresno runs above the national January norm; 17.5% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (above average).
January is part of Fresno's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Fresno
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Fresno's AQI at 69 (PM10). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Fresno air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Fresno, CA), 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.