Lexington Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Lexington's January air quality had a median AQI of 42 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Lexington-Fayette, KY area. 0.0% of January days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.7% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2024 (median AQI 30, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 51, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 65).
- Good: 63.6%
- Moderate: 36.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Lexington Homes
Air quality in Lexington 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.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Lexington in January?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 42 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓63.6% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 36.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 76.
- ✓Best January: 2024; worst January: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Lexington in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Lexington in January was 42 (Good). 63.6% of days were Good, 36.4% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Lexington?▾
A typical January day in Lexington sits in the Good range (median AQI 42), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Lexington's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.7% of January days in Lexington. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 76 (Moderate), in 2019.
Lexington January air quality, year by year
Lexington January air quality by year (Lexington-Fayette, KY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 31 | 51 | 0 | 65 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 42 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 31 | 30 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 37 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Lexington
A typical January day in Lexington sits in the Good range (median AQI 42), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
January's median AQI of 42 is in line with Lexington's whole-year median of 44, 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 Lexington runs in line with the national January norm; 0.0% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
January is part of Lexington's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Lexington
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Lexington's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Lexington air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Lexington-Fayette, KY), 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.