Processed on 2024-03-04 12:52:42 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 September.

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.

September in Colorado

September 2014 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 291 4 0 0 0 0 15
New 270 25 0 0 0 0 15

September 2015 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 270 15 0 0 0 0 25
New 228 57 0 0 0 0 25

September 2016 – 30 permanent monitors

Processing error: Unable to calculate tables.

September 2017 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 263 98 8 4 0 0 30
New 233 128 8 4 0 0 30

September 2018 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 15 0 0 0 0 0 16
New 15 0 0 0 0 0 16

September 2019 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 386 5 0 0 0 0 43
New 349 42 0 0 0 0 43

September 2020 – 39 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 24 6 0 0 0 0 1
New 18 12 0 0 0 0 1

September 2021 – 27 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 373 122 6 0 0 0 26
New 273 222 6 0 0 0 26

September 2022 – 34 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 451 51 0 0 0 0 25
New 412 90 0 0 0 0 25

September 2023 – 147 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 452 20 1 2 0 0 21
New 409 63 1 1 1 0 21