Little Rock Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Little Rock's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR area. 1.4% of summer days (9 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 85.7% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 55, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 64, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 174).
- Good: 22.4%
- Moderate: 76.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
Extra Protection for Little Rock Homes
Air quality in Little Rock is moderate (AQI 96), 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
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How is the air in Little Rock in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓22.4% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 76.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓9 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 174.
- ✓Cleanest month: July; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Little Rock in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Little Rock in summer was 57 (Moderate). 22.4% of days were Good, 76.2% Moderate, and 1.4% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Little Rock?▾
A typical summer day in Little Rock 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 71 of summer days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Little Rock's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 85.7% of summer days in Little Rock. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 174 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Little Rock summer air quality, year by year
Little Rock summer air quality by year (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 55 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 55 | 2 | 132 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 58 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 56 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 64 | 3 | 174 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 59 | 3 | 147 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 55 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Little Rock
A typical summer day in Little Rock 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 71 of summer days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 57 is in line with Little Rock's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Little Rock runs above the national Summer norm; 1.4% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, July is the cleanest month (median AQI 57, 0.0% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 59, 3.4% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Little Rock
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Little Rock's AQI at 96 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Little Rock air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR), 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.