Birmingham Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Birmingham's air quality (Birmingham-Hoover, AL area) had a median daily AQI of 56 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 5 days (1.4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 104 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 189 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 317 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was December (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 70, 4 days above 100, peak 189).
- Good: 28.5%
- Moderate: 70.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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How was Birmingham's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56, with 5 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 4th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 189 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 317 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: December; worst: August.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Birmingham in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Birmingham's (Birmingham-Hoover, AL) median daily AQI for 2021 at 56, which is Moderate. 5 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 189.
Which month had the worst air quality in Birmingham in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was December (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was August (median 70, 4 days above 100, peak 189).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Birmingham's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Birmingham month by month in 2021
Birmingham air quality month by month, 2021 (Birmingham-Hoover, AL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 54 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 55 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 55 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 58 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 58 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 55 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 56 | 0 | 92 | PM2.5 |
| Augustworst | 31 | 70 | 4 | 189 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 57 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 54 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 53 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| Decembercleanest | 31 | 52 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 56 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Birmingham
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Birmingham's AQI at 26 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Birmingham air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Birmingham-Hoover, AL), 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.