Processed on 2024-03-04 13:25:19 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 Minnesota spent in each AQI category during the the month of February.

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.

February in Minnesota

February 2014 – 17 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 327 72 0 0 0 0 21
New 267 132 0 0 0 0 21

February 2015 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 388 84 0 0 0 0 4
New 313 158 1 0 0 0 4

February 2016 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 468 45 0 0 0 0 9
New 418 95 0 0 0 0 9

February 2017 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 471 27 0 0 0 0 6
New 403 95 0 0 0 0 6

February 2018 – 40 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 450 78 0 0 0 0 4
New 369 159 0 0 0 0 4

February 2019 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 410 148 0 0 0 0 2
New 337 221 0 0 0 0 2

February 2020 – 42 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 563 41 0 0 0 0 5
New 488 116 0 0 0 0 5

February 2021 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 441 130 1 0 0 0 16
New 355 216 1 0 0 0 16

February 2022 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 509 56 1 0 0 0 22
New 431 134 1 0 0 0 22

February 2023 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 541 47 0 0 0 0 0
New 444 144 0 0 0 0 0