Sarasota Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Sarasota's May air quality had a median AQI of 50 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL area. 0.5% of May days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.0% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 45, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 55, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 115).
- Good: 53.0%
- Moderate: 46.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Sarasota in May?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 50 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓53.0% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 46.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 115.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Sarasota in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Sarasota in May was 50 (Good). 53.0% of days were Good, 46.5% Moderate, and 0.5% 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 Sarasota?▾
A typical May day in Sarasota sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Sarasota's May air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.0% of May days in Sarasota. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 115 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2024.
Sarasota May air quality, year by year
Sarasota May air quality by year (North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 45 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 55 | 1 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Sarasota
A typical May day in Sarasota sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
May's median AQI of 50 is above Sarasota's whole-year median of 45, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Sarasota runs above the national May norm; 0.5% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
May is part of Sarasota's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Sarasota
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Sarasota's AQI at 42 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Sarasota air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, 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.