Memphis Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Memphis's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 632 monitored days in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR area. 0.2% of winter days (1 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.7% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2022 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 51, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 148).
- Good: 53.8%
- Moderate: 46.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.2%
- 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 winter?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48 across 2019–2025, with 0.2% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓53.8% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 46.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 148.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst month: December.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Memphis in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Memphis in winter was 48 (Good). 53.8% of days were Good, 46.0% Moderate, and 0.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Memphis?▾
A typical winter 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 winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Memphis's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.7% of winter days in Memphis. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 148 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
Memphis winter air quality, year by year
Memphis winter 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 | 90 | 51 | 1 | 148 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 54 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 47 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 90 | 44 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 52 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 48 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 90 | 45 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Memphis
A typical winter 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 winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Winter'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 Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Memphis runs above the national Winter norm; 0.2% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, January is the cleanest month (median AQI 44, 0.0% of days above 100) and December the worst (median 48, 0.5% above 100).
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 season 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.