Kansas City Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Kansas City's air quality (Kansas City, MO-KS area) had a median daily AQI of 54 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 5 days (1.4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 126 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 159 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 277 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was May (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 51, 3 days above 100, peak 159).
- Good: 34.4%
- Moderate: 64.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%
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How was Kansas City's air quality in 2020?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54, with 5 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 159 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 277 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: May; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Kansas City in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Kansas City's (Kansas City, MO-KS) median daily AQI for 2020 at 54, which is Moderate. 5 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 159.
Which month had the worst air quality in Kansas City in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was May (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 51, 3 days above 100, peak 159).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Kansas City's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2020's median of 54 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Kansas City month by month in 2020
Kansas City air quality month by month, 2020 (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 56 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 54 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 54 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 55 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| Maycleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 66 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 51 | 3 | 159 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 54 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 53 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 52 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 53 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 62 | 0 | 91 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2020's median of 54 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Kansas City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Kansas City's AQI at 44 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Kansas City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Kansas City, MO-KS), 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.