Aurora, CO Air Quality in September

Across 2019–2025, Aurora's September air quality had a median AQI of 71 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO area. 11.0% of September days (23 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 81.0% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2025 (median AQI 60, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 73, 10 days above 100, peak AQI 177).

71
Median AQI
Moderate
11.0%
Days above AQI 100
23 of 210 days
101
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
177
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
O3
Main pollutant
81.0% of days
17.6%
Good days
37 of 210
  • Good: 17.6%
  • Moderate: 71.4%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 10.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 1.0%

Reduce Indoor Ozone in Aurora

Today's main pollutant in Aurora is ground-level ozone (AQI 43). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Aurora in September?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 71 across 2019–2025, with 11.0% of September days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 17.6% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 71.4% Moderate (51–100).
  • 23 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 177.
  • Best September: 2025; worst September: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Aurora in September?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Aurora in September was 71 (Moderate). 17.6% of days were Good, 71.4% Moderate, and 11.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is September a good time for outdoor exercise in Aurora?

A typical September day in Aurora is Moderate (median AQI 71): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of September days (11.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Aurora's September air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 81.0% of September days in Aurora. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 177 (Unhealthy), in 2021.

Aurora September air quality, year by year

Aurora September air quality by year (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
201930641112O3
202030796136O3
2021worst307310177O3
202230693126O3
202330711122O3
202430691101O3
2025cleanest30601108O3

What September air means in Aurora

A typical September day in Aurora is Moderate (median AQI 71): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of September days (11.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

September's median AQI of 71 is above Aurora's whole-year median of 64, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median September AQI across every EPA metro area (100,699 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Aurora runs above the national September norm; 11.0% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (above average).

September is part of Aurora's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Aurora

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Aurora's AQI at 43 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Aurora air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO), 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.