Fort Lauderdale Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Fort Lauderdale's May air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL area. 1.0% of May days (2 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 78.3% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2025 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 57, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 154).
- Good: 36.9%
- Moderate: 62.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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How is the air in Fort Lauderdale in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 1.0% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓36.9% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 62.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 154.
- ✓Best May: 2025; worst May: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Fort Lauderdale in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Fort Lauderdale in May was 53 (Moderate). 36.9% of days were Good, 62.2% Moderate, and 1.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Fort Lauderdale?▾
A typical May day in Fort Lauderdale is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 100 of May days (1.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Fort Lauderdale's May air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 78.3% of May days in Fort Lauderdale. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Fort Lauderdale May air quality, year by year
Fort Lauderdale May air quality by year (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 57 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 53 | 1 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 57 | 1 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 48 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Fort Lauderdale
A typical May day in Fort Lauderdale is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 100 of May days (1.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 53 is in line with Fort Lauderdale's whole-year median of 51, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Fort Lauderdale runs above the national May norm; 1.0% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
May is part of Fort Lauderdale's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Fort Lauderdale
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Fort Lauderdale's AQI at 42 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Fort Lauderdale air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL), 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.