Processed on 2024-03-04 12:52:32 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Colorado spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

August in Colorado

August 2014 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 314 5 0 0 0 0 33
New 293 26 0 0 0 0 33

August 2015 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 189 84 1 0 0 0 46
New 142 131 1 0 0 0 46

August 2016 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 301 27 0 0 0 0 24
New 231 97 0 0 0 0 24

August 2017 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 282 89 0 0 0 0 45
New 176 195 0 0 0 0 45

August 2018 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 200 199 12 0 0 0 37
New 86 313 11 1 0 0 37

August 2019 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 380 5 0 0 0 0 63
New 305 80 0 0 0 0 63

August 2020 – 39 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 229 177 17 0 0 0 57
New 126 279 18 0 0 0 57

August 2021 – 27 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 204 272 34 6 0 0 28
New 107 367 36 6 0 0 28

August 2022 – 34 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 514 1 0 0 0 0 29
New 484 31 0 0 0 0 29

August 2023 – 147 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 472 17 0 0 0 0 87
New 422 67 0 0 0 0 87