Dallas Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Dallas's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 632 monitored days in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area. 0.2% of winter days (1 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.9% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2020 (median AQI 50, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 52, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 159).
- Good: 40.8%
- Moderate: 59.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
Extra Protection for Dallas Homes
Air quality in Dallas is moderate (AQI 58), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in Dallas in winter?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.2% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓40.8% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 159.
- ✓Cleanest month: December; worst month: February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Dallas in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Dallas in winter was 52 (Moderate). 40.8% of days were Good, 59.0% Moderate, and 0.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Dallas?▾
A typical winter day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Dallas's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.9% of winter days in Dallas. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 159 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Dallas winter air quality, year by year
Dallas winter air quality by year (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90 | 53 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 91 | 50 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 53 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 90 | 52 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 90 | 52 | 1 | 159 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 90 | 56 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Dallas
A typical winter day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Winter's median AQI of 52 is below Dallas's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Dallas runs above the national Winter norm; 0.2% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, December is the cleanest month (median AQI 53, 0.0% of days above 100) and February the worst (median 52, 0.5% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Dallas
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Dallas's AQI at 58 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Dallas air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX), 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.