Harrisburg Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, Harrisburg's February air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 198 monitored days in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA area. 1.5% of February days (3 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 84.8% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2025 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 56, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 150).
- Good: 42.4%
- Moderate: 56.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Harrisburg
Today's main pollutant in Harrisburg is ground-level ozone (AQI 48). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Harrisburg in February?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 1.5% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓42.4% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓3 days of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 150.
- ✓Best February: 2025; worst February: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Harrisburg in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Harrisburg in February was 53 (Moderate). 42.4% of days were Good, 56.1% Moderate, and 1.5% 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 Harrisburg?▾
A typical February day in Harrisburg is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 67 of February days (1.5%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Harrisburg's February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 84.8% of February days in Harrisburg. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
Harrisburg February air quality, year by year
Harrisburg February air quality by year (Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 28 | 56 | 3 | 150 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 29 | 53 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 29 | 51 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 28 | 44 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in Harrisburg
A typical February day in Harrisburg is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 67 of February days (1.5%) 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 53 is in line with Harrisburg's whole-year median of 50, 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 Harrisburg runs above the national February norm; 1.5% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (above average).
February is part of Harrisburg's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Harrisburg
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Harrisburg's AQI at 48 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Harrisburg air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Harrisburg-Carlisle, 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.