Buffalo Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 632 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 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 88.4% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2025 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 52, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 83).
- Good: 55.1%
- Moderate: 44.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Buffalo Homes
Air quality in Buffalo is moderate (AQI 54), 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 Buffalo 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.
- ✓55.1% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 44.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 83.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst month: December.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Buffalo in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in winter was 48 (Good). 55.1% of days were Good, 44.9% 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 Buffalo?▾
A typical winter day in Buffalo 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 Buffalo's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 88.4% of winter days in Buffalo. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 83 (Moderate), in 2022.
Buffalo winter air quality, year by year
Buffalo winter air quality by year (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90 | 47 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 47 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 48 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 90 | 52 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 50 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 51 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 90 | 46 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Buffalo
A typical winter day in Buffalo 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 above Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Buffalo 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, January is the cleanest month (median AQI 47, 0.0% of days above 100) and December the worst (median 51, 0.0% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Buffalo
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Buffalo's AQI at 54 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Buffalo air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY), 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.