El Paso Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, El Paso's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 632 monitored days in the El Paso, TX area. 5.2% of winter days (33 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.2% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2019 (median AQI 57, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 79, 20 days above 100, peak AQI 633).
- Good: 32.6%
- Moderate: 62.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.9%
Extra Protection for El Paso Homes
Air quality in El Paso is moderate (AQI 54), 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 El Paso in winter?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 5.2% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓32.6% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 62.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓33 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 633.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst month: February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in El Paso in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in El Paso in winter was 57 (Moderate). 32.6% of days were Good, 62.2% Moderate, and 5.2% 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 El Paso?▾
A typical winter day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 19 of winter days (5.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes El Paso's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.2% of winter days in El Paso. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 633 (Hazardous), in 2025.
El Paso winter air quality, year by year
El Paso winter air quality by year (El Paso, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 90 | 57 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 52 | 1 | 183 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 55 | 1 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 90 | 56 | 1 | 163 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 53 | 2 | 133 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 59 | 8 | 338 | PM10 |
| 2025worst | 90 | 79 | 20 | 633 | PM10 |
What winter air means in El Paso
A typical winter day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 19 of winter days (5.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Winter's median AQI of 57 is in line with El Paso's whole-year median of 59, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so El Paso runs above the national Winter norm; 5.2% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, January is the cleanest month (median AQI 55, 3.2% of days above 100) and February the worst (median 56, 8.6% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in El Paso
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts El Paso's AQI at 54 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current El Paso air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (El Paso, TX), 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.