Jersey City Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Jersey City's May air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 1.8% of May days (4 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.5% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 53, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 129).
- Good: 41.5%
- Moderate: 56.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Jersey City Homes
Air quality in Jersey City is moderate (AQI 52), 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
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How is the air in Jersey City in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 1.8% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓41.5% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓4 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 133.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Jersey City in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Jersey City in May was 53 (Moderate). 41.5% of days were Good, 56.7% Moderate, and 1.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Jersey City?▾
A typical May day in Jersey City is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 56 of May days (1.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Jersey City's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.5% of May days in Jersey City. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 133 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Jersey City May air quality, year by year
Jersey City May air quality by year (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 57 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 64 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 53 | 2 | 129 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 60 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 49 | 1 | 133 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
What May air means in Jersey City
A typical May day in Jersey City is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 56 of May days (1.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 53 is in line with Jersey City's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Jersey City runs above the national May norm; 1.8% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
May is part of Jersey City's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Jersey City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Jersey City's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Jersey City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA), 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.