Processed on 2024-03-04 14:07:12 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 Texas 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 Texas

December 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 333 29 0 0 0 0 10
New 270 92 0 0 0 0 10

December 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 275 42 0 0 0 0 24
New 218 99 0 0 0 0 24

December 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 215 8 1 1 0 0 54
New 177 46 1 1 0 0 54

December 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 319 56 1 0 0 0 27
New 241 134 1 0 0 0 27

December 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 643 48 0 1 0 0 114
New 548 143 0 1 0 0 114

December 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 704 174 1 0 0 0 20
New 559 319 1 0 0 0 20

December 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 866 86 0 0 0 0 9
New 746 206 0 0 0 0 9

December 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 843 226 1 0 0 0 46
New 665 404 1 0 0 0 46

December 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1231 185 0 0 0 0 72
New 1013 403 0 0 0 0 72

December 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1142 137 1 0 0 0 40
New 937 342 1 0 0 0 40