Atlanta Air Quality in January
Across 2019–2025, Atlanta's January air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 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 85.7% of days. The cleanest January on record here was 2020 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 75).
- Good: 48.4%
- Moderate: 51.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Atlanta Homes
Air quality in Atlanta is moderate (AQI 56), 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.
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How is the air in Atlanta in January?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of January days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓48.4% of January days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the January peak was 85.
- ✓Best January: 2020; worst January: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Atlanta in January?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Atlanta in January was 51 (Moderate). 48.4% of days were Good, 51.6% 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 Atlanta?▾
A typical January day in Atlanta is Moderate (median AQI 51): 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 Atlanta's January air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 85.7% of January days in Atlanta. The highest January AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 85 (Moderate), in 2022.
Atlanta January air quality, year by year
Atlanta January air quality by year (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 43 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 65 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 57 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
What January air means in Atlanta
A typical January day in Atlanta is Moderate (median AQI 51): 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 51 is in line with Atlanta's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median January AQI across every EPA metro area (95,602 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Atlanta 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 Atlanta's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Atlanta
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Atlanta's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month 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.