Reno Air Quality in Winter

Across 2019–2025, Reno's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 632 monitored days in the Reno, NV area. 0.0% of winter days (0 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.4% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2019 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 53, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 77).

48
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 632 days
66
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
82
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
57.4% of days
52.8%
Good days
334 of 632
  • Good: 52.8%
  • Moderate: 47.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Reno in winter?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 48 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 52.8% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 47.2% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 82.
  • Cleanest month: February; worst month: December.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Reno in winter?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Reno in winter was 48 (Good). 52.8% of days were Good, 47.2% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Reno?

A typical winter day in Reno sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Reno's winter air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.4% of winter days in Reno. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 82 (Moderate), in 2023.

Reno winter air quality, year by year

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

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest9046074PM2.5
20209148082PM2.5
20219046082PM2.5
20229052082PM2.5
2023worst9053077PM2.5
20249147078PM2.5
20259048075PM2.5

What winter air means in Reno

A typical winter day in Reno sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Winter's median AQI of 48 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 Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Reno runs above the national Winter norm; 0.0% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).

Within the season, February is the cleanest month (median AQI 45, 0.0% of days above 100) and December the worst (median 53, 0.0% above 100).

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 season 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.