Rochester Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Rochester's air quality (Rochester, NY area) had a median daily AQI of 41 (Good) across 366 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 274 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 81 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 186 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was September (median AQI 32, 0 days above 100) and the worst was December (median 52, 0 days above 100, peak 81).
- Good: 74.9%
- Moderate: 25.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Rochester's air quality in 2020?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 41, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 81 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 186 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: September; worst: December.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Rochester in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Rochester's (Rochester, NY) median daily AQI for 2020 at 41, which is Good. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 81.
Which month had the worst air quality in Rochester in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was September (median AQI 32, 0 days above 100) and the worst was December (median 52, 0 days above 100, peak 81).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Rochester'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 41 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Rochester month by month in 2020
Rochester air quality month by month, 2020 (Rochester, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 46 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 49 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 39 | 0 | 59 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 42 | 0 | 51 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 38 | 0 | 54 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 44 | 0 | 71 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 44 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 37 | 0 | 61 | O3 |
| Septembercleanest | 30 | 32 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 34 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 43 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| Decemberworst | 31 | 52 | 0 | 81 | 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 41 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Rochester, 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.