Spokane Air Quality in January

Across 2019–2025, Spokane's January air quality had a median AQI of 58 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 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 95.9% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2023 (median AQI 56, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 62, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 81).

58
Median AQI
Moderate
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
70
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
100
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
95.9% of days
20.7%
Good days
45 of 217
  • Good: 20.7%
  • Moderate: 79.3%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Spokane in January?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 20.7% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 79.3% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 100.
  • Best January: 2023; worst January: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Spokane in January?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Spokane in January was 58 (Moderate). 20.7% of days were Good, 79.3% 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 Spokane?

A typical January day in Spokane is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Spokane's January air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 95.9% of January days in Spokane. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 100 (Moderate), in 2021.

Spokane January air quality, year by year

Spokane January air quality by year (Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
201931600100PM2.5
20203158071PM2.5
2021worst3162081PM2.5
20223160074PM2.5
2023cleanest3156084PM2.5
20243156087PM2.5
20253158071PM2.5

What January air means in Spokane

A typical January day in Spokane is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of January days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

January's median AQI of 58 is above Spokane's whole-year median of 47, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Spokane 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 Spokane's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.

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

Right now in Spokane

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Spokane's AQI at 26 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Spokane air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA), 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.