Dayton Air Quality in December

Across 2019–2025, Dayton's December air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Dayton, OH area. 0.0% of December days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.0% of days. The cleanest December on record here was 2024 (median AQI 36, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 59, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 90).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
67
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
90
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
94.0% of days
48.4%
Good days
105 of 217
  • Good: 48.4%
  • Moderate: 51.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Dayton in December?

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

  • 48.4% of December days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the December peak was 90.
  • Best December: 2024; worst December: 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Dayton in December?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Dayton in December 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 December a good time for outdoor exercise in Dayton?

A typical December day in Dayton 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 December 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 Dayton's December air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 94.0% of December days in Dayton. The highest December AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 90 (Moderate), in 2020.

Dayton December air quality, year by year

Dayton December air quality by year (Dayton, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193159084PM2.5
2020worst3159090PM2.5
20213153065PM2.5
20223146075PM2.5
20233141070PM2.5
2024cleanest3136063PM2.5
20253153077PM2.5

What December air means in Dayton

A typical December day in Dayton 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 December days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

December's median AQI of 52 is in line with Dayton's whole-year median of 51, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median December AQI across every EPA metro area (95,590 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Dayton runs above the national December norm; 0.0% of its December days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).

December is part of Dayton's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.

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

Right now in Dayton

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Dayton's AQI at 50 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Dayton air quality →

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