New York Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, New York's February air quality had a median AQI of 55 (Moderate) over 198 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 0.5% of February days (1 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.3% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2025 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 57, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 103).
- Good: 28.3%
- Moderate: 71.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for New York Homes
Air quality in New York 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.
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How is the air in New York in February?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓28.3% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 71.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 103.
- ✓Best February: 2025; worst February: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New York in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New York in February was 55 (Moderate). 28.3% of days were Good, 71.2% Moderate, and 0.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 198 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is February a good time for outdoor exercise in New York?▾
A typical February day in New York 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 February 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 New York's February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.3% of February days in New York. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 103 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
New York February air quality, year by year
New York February 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 28 | 57 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 29 | 57 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 58 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 56 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 29 | 53 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 28 | 52 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in New York
A typical February day in New York 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 February days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
February's median AQI of 55 is in line with New York's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median February AQI across every EPA metro area (87,428 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 41, so New York runs above the national February norm; 0.5% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
February is part of New York's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in New York
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts New York's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current New York 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.