Kansas City Air Quality in December
Across 2019–2025, Kansas City's December air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Kansas City, MO-KS area. 0.5% of December days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 80.2% of days. The cleanest December on record here was 2023 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 57, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 105).
- Good: 39.2%
- Moderate: 60.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Kansas City Homes
Air quality in Kansas City is moderate (AQI 64), 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 Kansas City in December?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of December days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓39.2% of December days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the December peak was 105.
- ✓Best December: 2023; worst December: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Kansas City in December?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Kansas City in December was 54 (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 December a good time for outdoor exercise in Kansas City?▾
A typical December day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of December 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 Kansas City's December air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 80.2% of December days in Kansas City. The highest December AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Kansas City December air quality, year by year
Kansas City December air quality by year (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 62 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 57 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2023cleanest | 31 | 43 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
What December air means in Kansas City
A typical December day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of December days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
December's median AQI of 54 is in line with Kansas City's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median December AQI across every EPA metro area (95,590 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Kansas City runs above the national December norm; 0.5% of its December days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
December is part of Kansas City's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Kansas City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Kansas City's AQI at 64 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Kansas City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Kansas City, MO-KS), 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.