Kansas City Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Kansas City's air quality (Kansas City, MO-KS area) had a median daily AQI of 55 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 13 days (3.6%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 113 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 147 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 252 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was May (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 65, 4 days above 100, peak 147).
- Good: 31.0%
- Moderate: 65.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Kansas City's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55, with 13 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 147 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 252 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: May; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Kansas City in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Kansas City's (Kansas City, MO-KS) median daily AQI for 2021 at 55, which is Moderate. 13 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 147.
Which month had the worst air quality in Kansas City in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was May (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 65, 4 days above 100, peak 147).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Kansas City's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 55 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 54.
Kansas City month by month in 2021
Kansas City air quality month by month, 2021 (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 56 | 0 | 98 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 55 | 0 | 99 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 57 | 2 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 56 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| Maycleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 56 | 3 | 126 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 65 | 4 | 147 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 57 | 2 | 145 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 54 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 52 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 53 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 57 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 55 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.