Cincinnati Air Quality in 2023

In 2023, Cincinnati's air quality (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area) had a median daily AQI of 57 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 24 days (6.6%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 92 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 197 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 263 of those days. The cleanest month of 2023 was March (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 95, 14 days above 100, peak 197).

57
Median AQI
Moderate
24
Days above AQI 100
6.6% of 365 days
90
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
197
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
263 of 365 days
92
Good days
25.2% of days
  • Good: 25.2%
  • Moderate: 68.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 5.2%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 1.4%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Cincinnati's air quality in 2023?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57, with 24 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 7th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2023: 197 (Unhealthy).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 263 days.
  • Cleanest month: March; worst: June.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Cincinnati in 2023?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Cincinnati's (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN) median daily AQI for 2023 at 57, which is Moderate. 24 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 197.

Which month had the worst air quality in Cincinnati in 2023?

The cleanest month of 2023 was March (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 95, 14 days above 100, peak 197).

Was 2023 a good or bad year for Cincinnati's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here. 2023's median of 57 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 56.

Cincinnati month by month in 2023

Cincinnati air quality month by month, 2023 (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3156071PM2.5
February2856072PM2.5
Marchcleanest3154071PM2.5
April3056096PM2.5
May31591112O3
Juneworst309514197PM2.5
July31644129O3
August31644156PM2.5
September3054074PM2.5
October3154080PM2.5
November30581140PM2.5
December3156094PM2.5

How 2023 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2023 ranks 7th cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the worst year on record here.

2023's median of 57 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.