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Environment in New Jersey

Air quality, wildfires, drought, water and emissions.

Monitored days with good air quality
75.5%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Annual fires
≈ 1,200
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
43.2%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Total withdrawals
≈ 5.5 B gal/day
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
89.1
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Average annual temperature
53.8
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Air Quality

Pollution levels.

Monitored days with good air quality
75.5%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
0.8%
2025 · U.S. EPA AirData
Average PM2.5
8.4 µg/m³
Ozone alerts
Newark & Camden corridors

Monitored days with good air quality

1990–2025
75.5%

U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored New Jersey counties.

Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse

1990–2025
0.8%

U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).

IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
Average PM2.5 (µg/m³)8.48.2
  • •Traffic along the Turnpike corridor is the main source of ozone precursors.

Wildfires

Fire activity.

Annual fires
≈ 1,200
Acres burned
≈ 7,000
Risk level
Moderate (Pine Barrens)
IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
Acres burned per year (thousands)77000
  • •The Pine Barrens are one of the most fire-prone landscapes on the East Coast.

Drought

Dry conditions.

Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
43.2%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
6.1%
2025 · U.S. Drought Monitor
Severe drought
Occasional
Risk level
Moderate

Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average

2000–2025
43.2%

U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.

Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)

2000–2025
6.1%

U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.

IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
Share of area in drought (%)1026
  • •Coastal storms and nor'easters usually break New Jersey droughts quickly.

Water Usage

Water withdrawals.

Total withdrawals
≈ 5.5 B gal/day
Main use
Thermoelectric power
Public supply
≈ 1.0 B gal/day
IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
Water withdrawals per capita (gal/day)5801000
  • •The Delaware and Raritan basins supply most of New Jersey's drinking water.

Emissions

Greenhouse gases.

Energy-related CO₂ emissions
89.1
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Transportation CO₂ emissions
42.7
2021 · U.S. EIA State Energy Data System
Rank
20th in the U.S.
Per capita
10.1 t

Energy-related CO₂ emissions

1970–2021
89.1▼ 31%

U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTONJA).

Transportation CO₂ emissions

1970–2021
42.7▲ 21%

U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTONJA).

IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
CO2 emissions per capita (t)10.114.4
  • •Nuclear generation keeps New Jersey's power-sector emissions relatively low.

Climate Indicators

Temperature and rainfall.

Average annual temperature
53.8
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Annual precipitation
38.9
2025 · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Average temperature
12.3 °C
Warming since 1900
+1.5 °C

Average annual temperature

1895–2025
53.8▲ 8%

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.

Annual precipitation

1895–2025
38.86▲ 5%

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.

IndicatorNew JerseyU.S.
Annual precipitation (mm)1180767
  • •New Jersey has warmed faster than any other state in the Northeast since 1900.
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