Newark Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Newark's January air quality had a median AQI of 55 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 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 96.3% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2021 (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 58, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 87).
- Good: 20.7%
- Moderate: 79.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Newark Homes
Air quality in Newark 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 Newark in January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓20.7% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 79.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 94.
- ✓Best January: 2021; worst January: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Newark in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Newark in January was 55 (Moderate). 20.7% of days were Good, 79.3% 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 Newark?▾
A typical January day in Newark is Moderate (median AQI 55): 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 Newark's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 96.3% of January days in Newark. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 94 (Moderate), in 2022.
Newark January air quality, year by year
Newark January 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 | 56 | 0 | 94 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2021cleanest | 31 | 53 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 58 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Newark
A typical January day in Newark is Moderate (median AQI 55): 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 55 is in line with Newark's whole-year median of 54, 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 Newark runs above the national January norm; 0.0% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
January is part of Newark's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Newark
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Newark's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Newark 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.