Milwaukee Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, Milwaukee's February air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 198 monitored days in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI area. 0.0% of February days (0 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.9% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2024 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 58, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 95).
- Good: 46.5%
- Moderate: 53.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Milwaukee
Today's main pollutant in Milwaukee is ground-level ozone (AQI 32). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Milwaukee in February?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.5% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 95.
- ✓Best February: 2024; worst February: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Milwaukee in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Milwaukee in February was 52 (Moderate). 46.5% of days were Good, 53.5% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 198 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is February a good time for outdoor exercise in Milwaukee?▾
A typical February day in Milwaukee is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of February 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 Milwaukee's February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.9% of February days in Milwaukee. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 95 (Moderate), in 2021.
Milwaukee February air quality, year by year
Milwaukee February air quality by year (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 29 | 45 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 28 | 58 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 55 | 0 | 86 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 48 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 29 | 43 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 28 | 47 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in Milwaukee
A typical February day in Milwaukee is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of February days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
February's median AQI of 52 is in line with Milwaukee's whole-year median of 49, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median February AQI across every EPA metro area (87,428 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 41, so Milwaukee runs above the national February norm; 0.0% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
February is part of Milwaukee's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Milwaukee
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Milwaukee's AQI at 32 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Milwaukee air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI), 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.