Cleveland Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, Cleveland's air quality (Cleveland-Elyria, OH area) had a median daily AQI of 54 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 11 days (3.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 147 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 155 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 254 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was October (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 58, 6 days above 100, peak 155).
- Good: 40.2%
- Moderate: 56.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.7%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland's air quality in 2020?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54, with 11 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 155 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 254 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: October; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Cleveland in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Cleveland's (Cleveland-Elyria, OH) median daily AQI for 2020 at 54, which is Moderate. 11 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 155.
Which month had the worst air quality in Cleveland in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was October (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 58, 6 days above 100, peak 155).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for Cleveland's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2020's median of 54 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 55.
Cleveland month by month in 2020
Cleveland air quality month by month, 2020 (Cleveland-Elyria, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 55 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 56 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 55 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 52 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 48 | 0 | 71 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 53 | 2 | 112 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 58 | 6 | 155 | O3 |
| August | 31 | 55 | 1 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 55 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| Octobercleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 54 | 1 | 121 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 56 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2020's median of 54 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 55.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Cleveland
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Cleveland's AQI at 36 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Cleveland air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Cleveland-Elyria, OH), 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.