Processed on 2024-03-04 14:15:14 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 Washington 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 Washington

December 2014 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 787 99 0 0 0 0 13
New 673 213 0 0 0 0 13

December 2015 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 968 103 1 0 0 0 75
New 877 194 1 0 0 0 75

December 2016 – 112 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1010 175 3 1 0 0 82
New 877 308 3 1 0 0 82

December 2017 – 52 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1105 267 1 0 0 0 53
New 876 496 1 0 0 0 53

December 2018 – 130 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1341 177 1 0 0 0 62
New 1164 354 1 0 0 0 62

December 2019 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1433 340 2 0 0 0 23
New 1179 594 2 0 0 0 23

December 2020 – 129 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1487 287 6 5 0 0 44
New 1274 500 6 5 0 0 44

December 2021 – 71 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1897 91 1 0 0 0 26
New 1758 230 1 0 0 0 26

December 2022 – 83 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1909 236 9 0 0 0 78
New 1667 478 9 0 0 0 78

December 2023 – 106 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 2001 186 4 0 0 0 119
New 1767 420 4 0 0 0 119