New York Air Quality in March
Across 2019–2025, New York's March air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 0.0% of March days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of days. The cleanest March on record here was 2024 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 100).
- Good: 48.4%
- Moderate: 51.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- 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 March?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of March days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓48.4% of March days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the March peak was 100.
- ✓Best March: 2024; worst March: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New York in March?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New York in March was 52 (Moderate). 48.4% of days were Good, 51.6% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is March a good time for outdoor exercise in New York?▾
A typical March day in New York 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 March 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 March air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of March days in New York. The highest March AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 100 (Moderate), in 2019.
New York March air quality, year by year
New York March 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 | 31 | 57 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 56 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
What March air means in New York
A typical March day in New York 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 March days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
March's median AQI of 52 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 March AQI across every EPA metro area (102,455 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 42, so New York runs above the national March norm; 0.0% of its March days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
March is part of New York's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.