Birmingham Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Birmingham's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL area. 1.9% of fall days (12 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.7% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2025 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 59, 10 days above 100, peak AQI 140).
- Good: 29.5%
- Moderate: 68.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Birmingham Homes
Air quality in Birmingham is moderate (AQI 53), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Birmingham in fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 1.9% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓29.5% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 68.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓12 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 140.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst month: September.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Birmingham in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Birmingham in fall was 57 (Moderate). 29.5% of days were Good, 68.6% Moderate, and 1.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 637 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is fall a good time for outdoor exercise in Birmingham?▾
A typical fall day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 53 of fall days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Birmingham's fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 83.7% of fall days in Birmingham. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 140 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
Birmingham fall air quality, year by year
Birmingham fall air quality by year (Birmingham-Hoover, AL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 91 | 59 | 10 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 54 | 0 | 94 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 91 | 55 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 91 | 54 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 91 | 63 | 2 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 60 | 0 | 98 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 91 | 51 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Birmingham
A typical fall day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 53 of fall days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Fall's median AQI of 57 is in line with Birmingham's whole-year median of 56, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Fall AQI across every EPA metro area (296,275 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Birmingham runs above the national Fall norm; 1.9% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, November is the cleanest month (median AQI 55, 0.5% of days above 100) and September the worst (median 60, 3.8% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Birmingham
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Birmingham's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Birmingham air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Birmingham-Hoover, AL), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.