Baton Rouge Air Quality in August

Across 2019–2025, Baton Rouge's August air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Baton Rouge, LA area. 7.4% of August days (16 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 73.7% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 64, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 133).

56
Median AQI
Moderate
7.4%
Days above AQI 100
16 of 217 days
91
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
159
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
73.7% of days
32.7%
Good days
71 of 217
  • Good: 32.7%
  • Moderate: 59.9%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 6.5%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Baton Rouge in August?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 7.4% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 32.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.9% Moderate (51–100).
  • 16 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 159.
  • Best August: 2022; worst August: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Baton Rouge in August?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Baton Rouge in August was 56 (Moderate). 32.7% of days were Good, 59.9% Moderate, and 7.4% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Baton Rouge?

A typical August day in Baton Rouge is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 14 of August days (7.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Baton Rouge's August air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 73.7% of August days in Baton Rouge. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 159 (Unhealthy), in 2023.

Baton Rouge August air quality, year by year

Baton Rouge August air quality by year (Baton Rouge, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193153087PM2.5
202031532119PM2.5
202131562159PM2.5
2022cleanest3142071PM2.5
2023worst31647133O3
202431655154PM2.5
20253156071PM2.5

What August air means in Baton Rouge

A typical August day in Baton Rouge is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 14 of August days (7.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

August's median AQI of 56 is in line with Baton Rouge's whole-year median of 53, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Baton Rouge runs above the national August norm; 7.4% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).

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

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

Right now in Baton Rouge

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Baton Rouge's AQI at 46 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Baton Rouge air quality →

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