Rochester Air Quality in 2024

In 2024, Rochester's air quality (Rochester, NY area) had a median daily AQI of 39 (Good) across 366 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 268 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 90 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 188 of those days. The cleanest month of 2024 was November (median AQI 29, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 50, 0 days above 100, peak 69).

39
Median AQI
Good
0
Days above AQI 100
0.0% of 366 days
57
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
90
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
188 of 366 days
268
Good days
73.2% of days
  • Good: 73.2%
  • Moderate: 26.8%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Rochester's air quality in 2024?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 39, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 1st cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2024: 90 (Moderate).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 188 days.
  • Cleanest month: November; worst: July.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Rochester in 2024?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Rochester's (Rochester, NY) median daily AQI for 2024 at 39, which is Good. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 90.

Which month had the worst air quality in Rochester in 2024?

The cleanest month of 2024 was November (median AQI 29, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 50, 0 days above 100, peak 69).

Was 2024 a good or bad year for Rochester's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2024 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here. 2024's median of 39 is below the area's typical annual median of 42.

Rochester month by month in 2024

Rochester air quality month by month, 2024 (Rochester, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3143066PM2.5
February2939061PM2.5
March3139081O3
April3039055O3
May3140071O3
June3048074PM2.5
Julyworst3150069PM2.5
August3145090PM2.5
September3039061O3
October3133060O3
Novembercleanest3029052O3
December3142066PM2.5

How 2024 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2024 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here.

2024's median of 39 is below 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.