Pittsburgh Air Quality in Spring
Across 2019–2025, Pittsburgh's spring (March–May) air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Pittsburgh, PA area. 2.0% of spring days (13 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of days. The cleanest spring on record here was 2024 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 58, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 124).
- Good: 40.1%
- Moderate: 57.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Pittsburgh Homes
Air quality in Pittsburgh is moderate (AQI 56), 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 Pittsburgh in spring?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 2.0% of spring days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓40.1% of spring days were Good (AQI 0–50), 57.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓13 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the spring peak was 129.
- ✓Cleanest month: May; worst month: April.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Pittsburgh in spring?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Pittsburgh in spring was 53 (Moderate). 40.1% of days were Good, 57.9% Moderate, and 2.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is spring a good time for outdoor exercise in Pittsburgh?▾
A typical spring day in Pittsburgh 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 50 of spring days (2.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Pittsburgh's spring air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of spring days in Pittsburgh. The highest spring AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 129 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Pittsburgh spring air quality, year by year
Pittsburgh spring air quality by year (Pittsburgh, PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 60 | 2 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 52 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 54 | 3 | 123 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 55 | 2 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 58 | 5 | 124 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 92 | 48 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 48 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
What spring air means in Pittsburgh
A typical spring day in Pittsburgh 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 50 of spring days (2.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Spring's median AQI of 53 is below Pittsburgh's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median Spring AQI across every EPA metro area (307,196 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Pittsburgh runs above the national Spring norm; 2.0% of its Spring days topped AQI 100 versus 0.8% nationally (above average).
Within the season, May is the cleanest month (median AQI 54, 1.4% of days above 100) and April the worst (median 53, 2.4% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Pittsburgh
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Pittsburgh's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Pittsburgh air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Pittsburgh, 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.