Providence Air Quality in January

Across 2019–2025, Providence's January air quality had a median AQI of 46 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA area. 0.0% of January days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.0% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2024 (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 54, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 79).

46
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
61
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
81
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
76.0% of days
56.2%
Good days
122 of 217
  • Good: 56.2%
  • Moderate: 43.8%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Providence in January?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 46 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 56.2% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 43.8% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 81.
  • Best January: 2024; worst January: 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Providence in January?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Providence in January was 46 (Good). 56.2% of days were Good, 43.8% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is January a good time for outdoor exercise in Providence?

A typical January day in Providence sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Providence's January air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.0% of January days in Providence. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 81 (Moderate), in 2020.

Providence January air quality, year by year

Providence January air quality by year (Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193149064PM2.5
2020worst3154079PM2.5
20213139081PM2.5
20223152070PM2.5
20233141069PM2.5
2024cleanest3137061O3
20253145071PM2.5

What January air means in Providence

A typical January day in Providence sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

January's median AQI of 46 is in line with Providence's whole-year median of 47, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Providence runs above the national January norm; 0.0% of its January days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).

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

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

Right now in Providence

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Providence's AQI at 43 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Providence air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Providence-Warwick, RI-MA), 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.