Processed on 2024-03-04 13:31:53 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 Montana spent in each AQI category during the the month of May.

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.

May in Montana

May 2014 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 93 0 0 0 0 0 3
New 91 2 0 0 0 0 3

May 2015 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 419 12 0 0 0 0 17
New 391 40 0 0 0 0 17

May 2016 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 405 22 0 0 0 0 21
New 365 61 1 0 0 0 21

May 2017 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 482 8 0 0 0 0 22
New 450 40 0 0 0 0 22

May 2018 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 482 2 0 0 0 0 60
New 457 27 0 0 0 0 60

May 2019 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 515 20 3 0 0 0 38
New 495 40 3 0 0 0 38

May 2020 – 46 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 548 1 0 0 0 0 27
New 546 3 0 0 0 0 27

May 2021 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 521 3 0 0 0 0 52
New 511 13 0 0 0 0 52

May 2022 – 28 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 575 2 0 0 0 0 31
New 572 5 0 0 0 0 31

May 2023 – 79 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 547 79 31 14 1 0 32
New 503 122 32 12 3 0 32