Cleveland Air Quality in 2022

In 2022, Cleveland's air quality (Cleveland-Elyria, OH area) had a median daily AQI of 54 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 8 days (2.2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 133 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 158 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 266 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was April (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 58, 4 days above 100, peak 156).

54
Median AQI
Moderate
8
Days above AQI 100
2.2% of 365 days
77
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
158
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
266 of 365 days
133
Good days
36.4% of days
  • Good: 36.4%
  • Moderate: 61.4%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.6%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Cleveland's air quality in 2022?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54, with 8 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 3rd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2022: 158 (Unhealthy).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 266 days.
  • Cleanest month: April; worst: June.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Cleveland in 2022?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Cleveland's (Cleveland-Elyria, OH) median daily AQI for 2022 at 54, which is Moderate. 8 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 158.

Which month had the worst air quality in Cleveland in 2022?

The cleanest month of 2022 was April (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 58, 4 days above 100, peak 156).

Was 2022 a good or bad year for Cleveland's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2022's median of 54 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 55.

Cleveland month by month in 2022

Cleveland air quality month by month, 2022 (Cleveland-Elyria, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3156095PM2.5
February2854085PM2.5
March3152087PM2.5
Aprilcleanest3046073O3
May3153084PM2.5
Juneworst30584156O3
July31553158O3
August3151090PM2.5
September30521132PM2.5
October3154080PM2.5
November3053094PM2.5
December3155088PM2.5

How 2022 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100.

2022'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.