Buffalo Air Quality in December
Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's December air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY area. 0.0% of December days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.7% of days. The cleanest December on record here was 2025 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 52, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 64).
- Good: 47.9%
- Moderate: 52.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Buffalo Homes
Air quality in Buffalo is moderate (AQI 53), 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 Buffalo in December?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of December days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓47.9% of December days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the December peak was 70.
- ✓Best December: 2025; worst December: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Buffalo in December?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in December was 51 (Moderate). 47.9% of days were Good, 52.1% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is December a good time for outdoor exercise in Buffalo?▾
A typical December day in Buffalo 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 December 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 Buffalo's December air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 97.7% of December days in Buffalo. The highest December AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 70 (Moderate), in 2024.
Buffalo December air quality, year by year
Buffalo December air quality by year (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 52 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
What December air means in Buffalo
A typical December day in Buffalo 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 December days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
December's median AQI of 51 is above Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median December AQI across every EPA metro area (95,590 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Buffalo runs above the national December norm; 0.0% of its December days topped AQI 100 versus 0.7% nationally (about the same).
December is part of Buffalo's winter season (December, January, February); the winter page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Buffalo
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Buffalo's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Buffalo air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY), 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.