Milwaukee Air Quality in 2022

In 2022, Milwaukee's air quality (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI area) had a median daily AQI of 51 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 6 days (1.6%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 182 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 159 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 234 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was September (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 51, 3 days above 100, peak 159).

51
Median AQI
Moderate
6
Days above AQI 100
1.6% of 365 days
71
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
159
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
234 of 365 days
182
Good days
49.9% of days
  • Good: 49.9%
  • Moderate: 48.5%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.3%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Milwaukee's air quality in 2022?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51, with 6 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 2nd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2022: 159 (Unhealthy).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 234 days.
  • Cleanest month: September; worst: June.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Milwaukee in 2022?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Milwaukee's (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI) median daily AQI for 2022 at 51, which is Moderate. 6 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 159.

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

The cleanest month of 2022 was September (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 51, 3 days above 100, peak 159).

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

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2022's median of 51 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 49.

Milwaukee month by month in 2022

Milwaukee air quality month by month, 2022 (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January3155092PM2.5
February2855086PM2.5
March3145077PM2.5
April3044063O3
May31492126O3
Juneworst30513159O3
July3148087PM2.5
August3147087O3
Septembercleanest3043084O3
October31531103PM2.5
November3052084PM2.5
December3154071PM2.5

How 2022 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 2nd cleanest by days above AQI 100.

2022's median of 51 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 49.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Milwaukee

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Milwaukee's AQI at 22 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.

View current Milwaukee air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI), 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.