Reno Air Quality in January

Across 2019–2025, Reno's January air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Reno, NV 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 66.4% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2020 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 73).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
63
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
78
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
66.4% of days
42.4%
Good days
92 of 217
  • Good: 42.4%
  • Moderate: 57.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Reno in January?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 42.4% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 57.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 78.
  • Best January: 2020; worst January: 2022.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Reno in January?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Reno in January was 52 (Moderate). 42.4% of days were Good, 57.6% 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 Reno?

A typical January day in Reno is Moderate (median AQI 52): 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 Reno's January air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 66.4% of January days in Reno. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 78 (Moderate), in 2022.

Reno January air quality, year by year

Reno January air quality by year (Reno, NV, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193154069PM2.5
2020cleanest3143063O3
20213149070PM2.5
2022worst3157073PM2.5
20233153072PM2.5
20243148078PM2.5
20253154069PM2.5

What January air means in Reno

A typical January day in Reno is Moderate (median AQI 52): 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 52 is in line with Reno's whole-year median of 50, 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 Reno 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 Reno's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Reno

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Reno's AQI at 64 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Reno air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Reno, 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.