Cincinnati Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Cincinnati's air quality (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area) had a median daily AQI of 55 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 7 days (1.9%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 98 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 126 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 289 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was March (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 71, 4 days above 100, peak 126).
- Good: 26.8%
- Moderate: 71.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Cincinnati, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How was Cincinnati's air quality in 2020?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55, with 7 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 126 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 289 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: March; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Cincinnati in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Cincinnati's (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN) median daily AQI for 2020 at 55, which is Moderate. 7 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 126.
Which month had the worst air quality in Cincinnati in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was March (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 71, 4 days above 100, peak 126).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Cincinnati'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 55 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Cincinnati month by month in 2020
Cincinnati air quality month by month, 2020 (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 55 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 56 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| Marchcleanest | 31 | 52 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 54 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 52 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 61 | 1 | 115 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 71 | 4 | 126 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 55 | 1 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 55 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 54 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 56 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 60 | 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 55 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Cincinnati
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Cincinnati's AQI at 39 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Cincinnati air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN), 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.