Memphis Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Memphis's January air quality had a median AQI of 44 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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 82.0% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2021 (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 55, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 88).
- Good: 60.8%
- Moderate: 39.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- 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 January?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 44 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓60.8% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 39.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 88.
- ✓Best January: 2021; worst January: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Memphis in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Memphis in January was 44 (Good). 60.8% of days were Good, 39.2% 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 Memphis?▾
A typical January day in Memphis sits in the Good range (median AQI 44), 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 Memphis's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.0% of January days in Memphis. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 88 (Moderate), in 2020.
Memphis January air quality, year by year
Memphis January air quality by year (Memphis, TN-MS-AR, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2020worst | 31 | 55 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2021cleanest | 31 | 42 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 45 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Memphis
A typical January day in Memphis sits in the Good range (median AQI 44), 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 44 is below Memphis's whole-year median of 53, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Memphis 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 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.