Louisville Air Quality in September

Across 2019–2025, Louisville's September air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN area. 4.3% of September days (9 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.0% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2020 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 58, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 140).

53
Median AQI
Moderate
4.3%
Days above AQI 100
9 of 210 days
77
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
140
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
59.0% of days
39.5%
Good days
83 of 210
  • Good: 39.5%
  • Moderate: 56.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.3%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Louisville in September?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 4.3% of September days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 39.5% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.2% Moderate (51–100).
  • 9 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 140.
  • Best September: 2020; worst September: 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Louisville in September?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Louisville in September was 53 (Moderate). 39.5% of days were Good, 56.2% Moderate, and 4.3% 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 Louisville?

A typical September day in Louisville 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 23 of September days (4.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Louisville's September air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.0% of September days in Louisville. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 140 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2025.

Louisville September air quality, year by year

Louisville September air quality by year (Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193061097O3
2020cleanest3052064PM2.5
202130481112PM2.5
202230521105PM2.5
20233055074PM2.5
202430481108O3
2025worst30586140O3

What September air means in Louisville

A typical September day in Louisville 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 23 of September days (4.3%) 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 53 is in line with Louisville's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median September AQI across every EPA metro area (100,699 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Louisville runs above the national September norm; 4.3% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (above average).

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

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

Right now in Louisville

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Louisville's AQI at 61 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Louisville air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN), 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.