Rockford Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Rockford's July air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Rockford, IL area. 2.8% of July days (6 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.8% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 53, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 123).

49
Median AQI
Good
2.8%
Days above AQI 100
6 of 217 days
69
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
169
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
61.8% of days
51.6%
Good days
112 of 217
  • Good: 51.6%
  • Moderate: 45.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.3%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Rockford in July?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 2.8% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 51.6% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 45.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 6 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 169.
  • Best July: 2022; worst July: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Rockford in July?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Rockford in July was 49 (Good). 51.6% of days were Good, 45.6% Moderate, and 2.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Rockford?

A typical July day in Rockford sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 36 of July days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Rockford's July air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.8% of July days in Rockford. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 169 (Unhealthy), in 2023.

Rockford July air quality, year by year

Rockford July air quality by year (Rockford, IL, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
201931531102PM2.5
20203148096PM2.5
20213155081PM2.5
2022cleanest3143074O3
2023worst31533123O3
20243145058O3
202531492169PM2.5

What July air means in Rockford

A typical July day in Rockford sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 36 of July days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

July's median AQI of 49 is in line with Rockford's whole-year median of 47, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Rockford runs in line with the national July norm; 2.8% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).

July is part of Rockford's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.

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

Right now in Rockford

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Rockford's AQI at 22 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Rockford air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Rockford, IL), 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.