Memphis Air Quality in December
Across 2019–2025, Memphis's December air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR area. 0.5% of December days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.6% of days. The cleanest December on record here was 2022 (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 54, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 148).
- Good: 52.5%
- Moderate: 47.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Memphis Homes
Air quality in Memphis is moderate (AQI 57), 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.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in Memphis in December?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of December days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓52.5% of December days were Good (AQI 0–50), 47.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the December peak was 148.
- ✓Best December: 2022; worst December: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Memphis in December?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Memphis in December was 48 (Good). 52.5% of days were Good, 47.0% Moderate, and 0.5% 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 Memphis?▾
A typical December day in Memphis sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of December days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Memphis's December air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.6% of December days in Memphis. The highest December AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 148 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
Memphis December air quality, year by year
Memphis December air quality by year (Memphis, TN-MS-AR, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 31 | 54 | 1 | 148 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 65 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 42 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
What December air means in Memphis
A typical December day in Memphis sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of December days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
December's median AQI of 48 is below Memphis's whole-year median of 53, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median December AQI across every EPA metro area (95,590 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Memphis runs above the national December norm; 0.5% of its December days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
December is part of Memphis's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Memphis
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Memphis's AQI at 57 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Memphis air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Memphis, TN-MS-AR), 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.