Processed on 2024-03-04 13:49:01 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

December 2014 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 76 11 0 0 0 0 6
New 57 30 0 0 0 0 6

December 2015 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 80 13 0 0 0 0 0
New 60 33 0 0 0 0 0

December 2016 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 93 0 0 0 0 0 0
New 92 1 0 0 0 0 0

December 2017 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 154 1 0 0 0 0 0
New 146 9 0 0 0 0 0

December 2018 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 151 2 0 0 0 0 2
New 147 6 0 0 0 0 2

December 2019 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 144 6 0 0 0 0 5
New 134 16 0 0 0 0 5

December 2020 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 116 8 0 0 0 0 0
New 111 13 0 0 0 0 0

December 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 147 7 0 0 0 0 1
New 137 17 0 0 0 0 1

December 2022 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 132 22 1 0 0 0 0
New 115 39 1 0 0 0 0

December 2023 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 149 1 0 0 0 0 0
New 141 9 0 0 0 0 0