Processed on 2024-03-04 13:33:03 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 December.

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.

December in Montana

December 2014 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 287 131 6 0 0 0 10
New 238 179 7 0 0 0 10

December 2015 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 287 127 8 0 0 0 12
New 253 161 8 0 0 0 12

December 2016 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 327 118 9 0 0 0 11
New 291 154 9 0 0 0 11

December 2017 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 412 135 3 0 0 0 8
New 347 200 3 0 0 0 8

December 2018 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 453 91 0 0 0 0 14
New 393 151 0 0 0 0 14

December 2019 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 438 97 2 0 0 0 21
New 381 154 2 0 0 0 21

December 2020 – 46 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 427 120 4 0 0 0 7
New 378 169 4 0 0 0 7

December 2021 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 518 51 2 0 0 0 18
New 464 105 2 0 0 0 18

December 2022 – 28 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 447 135 1 0 0 0 6
New 375 207 1 0 0 0 6

December 2023 – 79 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 592 113 1 0 0 0 14
New 545 160 1 0 0 0 14