Cleveland Air Quality in 2023

In 2023, Cleveland's air quality (Cleveland-Elyria, OH area) had a median daily AQI of 57 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 16 days (4.4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 115 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 285 (Very Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 260 of those days. The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 49, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 90, 11 days above 100, peak 285).

57
Median AQI
Moderate
16
Days above AQI 100
4.4% of 365 days
86
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
285
Peak AQI
Very Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
260 of 365 days
115
Good days
31.5% of days
  • Good: 31.5%
  • Moderate: 64.1%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 1.4%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Cleveland's air quality in 2023?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57, with 16 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 7th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2023: 285 (Very Unhealthy).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 260 days.
  • Cleanest month: October; worst: June.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Cleveland in 2023?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Cleveland's (Cleveland-Elyria, OH) median daily AQI for 2023 at 57, which is Moderate. 16 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 285.

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

The cleanest month of 2023 was October (median AQI 49, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 90, 11 days above 100, peak 285).

Was 2023 a good or bad year for Cleveland'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 55.

Cleveland month by month in 2023

Cleveland air quality month by month, 2023 (Cleveland-Elyria, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3155080PM2.5
February2856074PM2.5
March3152077PM2.5
April30571115O3
May31631105O3
Juneworst309011285PM2.5
July31693157O3
August3161092PM2.5
September3055077PM2.5
Octobercleanest3149087PM2.5
November3055086PM2.5
December3157094PM2.5

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 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.