Las Vegas Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Las Vegas's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 59 (Moderate) over 632 monitored days in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV area. 3.0% of winter days (19 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 72.6% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2019 (median AQI 53, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 64, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 160).
- Good: 31.6%
- Moderate: 65.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.6%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Las Vegas
Today's main pollutant in Las Vegas is ground-level ozone (AQI 31). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
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How is the air in Las Vegas in winter?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 59 across 2019–2025, with 3.0% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓31.6% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 65.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓19 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 197.
- ✓Cleanest month: February; worst month: December.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Las Vegas in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Las Vegas in winter was 59 (Moderate). 31.6% of days were Good, 65.3% Moderate, and 3.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Las Vegas?▾
A typical winter day in Las Vegas is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 33 of winter days (3.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Las Vegas's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 72.6% of winter days in Las Vegas. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 197 (Unhealthy), in 2020.
Las Vegas winter air quality, year by year
Las Vegas winter air quality by year (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 90 | 53 | 1 | 102 | PM2.5 |
| 2020worst | 91 | 64 | 6 | 160 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 56 | 2 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 90 | 64 | 4 | 152 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 59 | 2 | 197 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 60 | 3 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 90 | 59 | 1 | 125 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Las Vegas
A typical winter day in Las Vegas is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 33 of winter days (3.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Winter's median AQI of 59 is in line with Las Vegas's whole-year median of 62, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Las Vegas runs above the national Winter norm; 3.0% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, February is the cleanest month (median AQI 52, 1.0% of days above 100) and December the worst (median 68, 5.0% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Las Vegas
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Las Vegas's AQI at 31 (O3). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Las Vegas air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV), 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.