Atlanta Air Quality in 2019

In 2019, Atlanta's air quality (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA area) had a median daily AQI of 58 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 19 days (5.2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 103 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 172 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 243 of those days. The cleanest month of 2019 was December (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 74, 6 days above 100, peak 172).

58
Median AQI
Moderate
19
Days above AQI 100
5.2% of 365 days
87
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
172
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
243 of 365 days
103
Good days
28.2% of days
  • Good: 28.2%
  • Moderate: 66.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.9%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Atlanta's air quality in 2019?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58, with 19 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2019: 172 (Unhealthy).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 243 days.
  • Cleanest month: December; worst: September.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Atlanta in 2019?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Atlanta's (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA) median daily AQI for 2019 at 58, which is Moderate. 19 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 172.

Which month had the worst air quality in Atlanta in 2019?

The cleanest month of 2019 was December (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 74, 6 days above 100, peak 172).

Was 2019 a good or bad year for Atlanta's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2019 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2019's median of 58 is above the area's typical annual median of 54.

Atlanta month by month in 2019

Atlanta air quality month by month, 2019 (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3153078PM2.5
February2854077PM2.5
March31581109PM2.5
April30601126PM2.5
May31650100PM2.5
June30583136PM2.5
July31631115PM2.5
August31644150O3
Septemberworst30746172O3
October31443147PM2.5
November3057073PM2.5
Decembercleanest3148080PM2.5

How 2019 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2019 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.

2019's median of 58 is above the area's typical annual median of 54.

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

Right now in Atlanta

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Atlanta's AQI at 57 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.

View current Atlanta air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA), 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.