City report · Alabama, United States
Montgomery Air quality today
Air quality in Montgomery currently reads AQI 152 (Unhealthy): Everyone should limit long outdoor exertion; sensitive groups more so.
Air quality right now
AQI 152
Unhealthy
- PM2.5, fine particles (µg/m³)
- 56.7
- tree cover
- 44.2%
- trees in this area
- 139K
- more trees needed
- 0
Measured across a 1.2 mi (2 km) radius around Montgomery, AL, USA (4.9 sq mi), from a satellite image of Sep 15, 2026. Lower AQI is better: 0–50 is Good, above 300 is Hazardous.
Montgomery · AQI 152 (Unhealthy)
Montgomery's tree count comes to 138,858 trees across 4.9 sq mi (12.57 km²), already at or above the 40% tree-cover level considered healthy for this area.
Air quality detail
Air quality in Montgomery today: AQI 152, Unhealthy
Main pollutant: PM2.5 · Observed Nov 11, 08:00 local time via OpenAQ ground stations, US EPA index. Values in µg/m³.
Ground station · MONTG, 3.9 mi (6.2 km) away
Health signal
Everyone should limit long outdoor exertion; sensitive groups more so.
PM2.5
56.7
PM10
—
NO₂
—
O₃
—
SO₂
—
CO
—
Data: OpenAQ · AirNow
- Outdoor exercise
- Everyone should cut down long or hard exercise; sensitive groups should avoid it
- Windows
- Keep them closed
- Mask
- Wear an N95 outdoors
- Air purifier
- Run one
Over the last 7 days, the CAMS air-quality model put Montgomery's daily AQI at 35 on average, from 16 on Nov 4 to an hourly peak of 64 on Nov 10.
Where Montgomery stands: the most polluted cities in the world right now · the cleanest
Tree cover detail
Tree cover in Montgomery: Healthy tree cover
44.2% tree cover against a 40% healthy-neighborhood target, across 4.9 sq mi (12.57 km²).
Trees in this area
138,858
Target trees
138,858
More trees needed
0
CO₂ if planted / yr
0 kg
Deforestation · 2001–2025
How much forest has Montgomery lost?
Since 2001, the area within 10 km of Montgomery has lost about 4,290 acres (1,730 hectares) of forest (about 3,200 football fields): 16% of the forest it had in 2000. Most of it was lost to logging, so much of it can grow back. About 1,270 acres (515 hectares) (30%) was deforestation: forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns.
2017: satellite photo from August 2017 of a 5 × 5 km area about 7 km southwest of the city center.
- Forest lost since 2001
- 4,290 acres (1,730 ha)about 3,200 football fields
- Share of its forest
- 16%of what there was in 2000
- Cleared for good
- 1,270 acres (515 ha)deforestation: turned into farms, mines or towns
Forest loss is speeding up: about 167 acres (68 hectares) a year in 2021–2025, up from 112 acres (45 hectares) a year in 2016–2020. The worst year was 2001, when about 435 acres (176 hectares) of forest were lost.
Acres of forest lost each year
Show the figures as a table
| Year | Cleared for good | Can grow back | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 144 acres (58 ha) | 291 acres (118 ha) | 435 acres (176 ha) |
| 2002 | 70 acres (28 ha) | 288 acres (117 ha) | 358 acres (145 ha) |
| 2003 | 52 acres (21 ha) | 54 acres (22 ha) | 106 acres (43 ha) |
| 2004 | 73 acres (29 ha) | 55 acres (22 ha) | 128 acres (52 ha) |
| 2005 | 128 acres (52 ha) | 30 acres (12 ha) | 158 acres (64 ha) |
| 2006 | 54 acres (22 ha) | 70 acres (28 ha) | 124 acres (50 ha) |
| 2007 | 71 acres (29 ha) | 25 acres (10 ha) | 95 acres (39 ha) |
| 2008 | 106 acres (43 ha) | 146 acres (59 ha) | 252 acres (102 ha) |
| 2009 | 11 acres (4 ha) | 39 acres (16 ha) | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| 2010 | 39 acres (16 ha) | 36 acres (14 ha) | 75 acres (30 ha) |
| 2011 | 38 acres (15 ha) | 66 acres (27 ha) | 103 acres (42 ha) |
| 2012 | 42 acres (17 ha) | 354 acres (143 ha) | 395 acres (160 ha) |
| 2013 | 23 acres (9 ha) | 333 acres (135 ha) | 356 acres (144 ha) |
| 2014 | 29 acres (12 ha) | 141 acres (57 ha) | 169 acres (69 ha) |
| 2015 | 34 acres (14 ha) | 55 acres (22 ha) | 89 acres (36 ha) |
| 2016 | 30 acres (12 ha) | 49 acres (20 ha) | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| 2017 | 22 acres (9 ha) | 135 acres (55 ha) | 156 acres (63 ha) |
| 2018 | 27 acres (11 ha) | 122 acres (49 ha) | 149 acres (60 ha) |
| 2019 | 21 acres (8 ha) | 135 acres (55 ha) | 156 acres (63 ha) |
| 2020 | 12 acres (5 ha) | 6 acres (3 ha) | 18 acres (7 ha) |
| 2021 | 26 acres (10 ha) | 127 acres (51 ha) | 152 acres (62 ha) |
| 2022 | 19 acres (8 ha) | 44 acres (18 ha) | 63 acres (26 ha) |
| 2023 | 23 acres (9 ha) | 266 acres (108 ha) | 289 acres (117 ha) |
| 2024 | 46 acres (19 ha) | 96 acres (39 ha) | 142 acres (57 ha) |
| 2025 | 136 acres (55 ha) | 52 acres (21 ha) | 188 acres (76 ha) |
What is causing deforestation around Montgomery?
- Loggingcan grow back69% · 2,980 acres (1,210 ha)
- Towns and roadscleared for good23% · 976 acres (395 ha)
- Farms, pasture and plantationscleared for good5.4% · 234 acres (95 ha)
Also: mining and energy, unknown causes.
Causes for 2025 are estimates, based on what caused forest loss in the same places up to 2024.
Forest gained and lost, 2000–2020
- Forest in 2000
- 33,200 acres (13,400 ha)
- Forest in 2020
- 35,100 acres (14,200 ha)
- Overall change
- +1,910 acres (774 ha)more forest than in 2000
Comparing satellite maps from 2000 and 2020, the forest around Montgomery grew from about 33,200 acres (13,400 hectares) to 35,100 acres (14,200 hectares), a net gain of about 1,910 acres (774 hectares) (+5.8%). New forest grew on about 3,030 acres (1,230 hectares), while 1,120 acres (453 hectares) were lost.
These 2000 and 2020 maps, from the University of Maryland, count any land with trees taller than 5 m as forest, including plantations and orchards. Forest that was cut or burned and had grown back by 2020 counts in both years, so the loss here is smaller than the yearly figures.
These figures cover everything within 10 km of the city center, a wider area than the report above, because forest is usually lost at a city's edges.
Source: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA, Global Forest Change (GFC-2025-v1.13); causes: WRI/Google DeepMind drivers of forest loss; both CC BY 4.0, summed by Airleaf for each area. Forest gained and lost 2000–2020: Potapov et al. 2022, UMD GLAD Global Land Cover and Land Use Change, CC BY 4.0. Images: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data. How it's measured
In the same region
Measured cities near Montgomery
Same 2 km radius, same index — so they compare directly.
- Columbus123.6 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 37%
- Air quality
- 37
- Birmingham136.6 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 14%
- Air quality
- 74
- Tuscaloosa151.2 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 40%
- Air quality
- 26
- South Fulton213.2 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 72%
- Air quality
- 53
- Atlanta235.3 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 25%
- Air quality
- 53
- Mobile248.7 km
United States
- Tree cover
- 31%
- Air quality
- 60
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Frequently asked
Questions about Montgomery
What is the air quality (AQI) in Montgomery right now?
The latest reading for Montgomery shows an AQI of 152 (Unhealthy), measured Nov 11, 08:00 local time by the MONTG ground monitoring station, 3.9 mi (6.2 km) away, via OpenAQ. The main pollutant is PM2.5. Everyone should limit long outdoor exertion; sensitive groups more so.
Is it safe to exercise outside in Montgomery today?
At AQI 152 (Unhealthy): everyone should cut down long or hard exercise; sensitive groups should avoid it. Windows: keep them closed. Masks: wear an N95 outdoors. The reading changes through the day, so check again before a long run or ride.
What has the air quality in Montgomery been like this week?
Over the last 7 days, the CAMS air-quality model put Montgomery's daily AQI at 35 on average, from 16 on Nov 4 to an hourly peak of 64 on Nov 10. No day averaged above 100, the level where the air turns unhealthy for sensitive groups.
How much forest has the area around Montgomery lost since 2001?
Since 2001, the area within 10 km of Montgomery has lost about 4,290 acres (1,730 hectares) of forest (about 3,200 football fields): 16% of the forest it had in 2000. Most of it was lost to logging, so much of it can grow back. About 1,270 acres (515 hectares) (30%) was deforestation: forest cleared for good for farms, mines or towns. Forest loss is speeding up: about 167 acres (68 hectares) a year in 2021–2025, up from 112 acres (45 hectares) a year in 2016–2020. Comparing satellite maps from 2000 and 2020, the forest around Montgomery grew from about 33,200 acres (13,400 hectares) to 35,100 acres (14,200 hectares), a net gain of about 1,910 acres (774 hectares) (+5.8%). New forest grew on about 3,030 acres (1,230 hectares), while 1,120 acres (453 hectares) were lost.
What is the tree count in Montgomery?
Montgomery has an estimated 138,858 trees across the 4.9 sq mi (12.57 km²) measured — 44.2% tree cover, already past the 40% tree-cover target set for this area.
How many more trees does Montgomery need?
Montgomery has already reached its tree-cover target, so no additional trees are needed to close the gap.
How are Montgomery's air quality and tree cover measured?
Air quality is measured by ground monitoring stations near Montgomery, via OpenAQ; the 7-day trend is the Open-Meteo / CAMS model's estimate. Tree cover is measured from Sentinel-2 L2A (ESA Copernicus) via Earth Search satellite imagery at 10 m detail across a 1.2 mi (2 km) radius around Montgomery; the tree count is an estimate derived from that cover.
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