Baton Rouge Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Baton Rouge's May air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Baton Rouge, LA area. 7.8% of May days (17 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.9% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2021 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 64, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 136).
- Good: 27.6%
- Moderate: 64.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 7.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Baton Rouge, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Baton Rouge in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 7.8% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓27.6% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓17 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 136.
- ✓Best May: 2021; worst May: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Baton Rouge in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Baton Rouge in May was 56 (Moderate). 27.6% of days were Good, 64.5% Moderate, and 7.8% 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 Baton Rouge?▾
A typical May 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 13 of May days (7.8%) 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 May air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.9% of May days in Baton Rouge. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 136 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Baton Rouge May air quality, year by year
Baton Rouge May air quality by year (Baton Rouge, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 54 | 5 | 112 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2021cleanest | 31 | 51 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 58 | 4 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 64 | 6 | 136 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 58 | 2 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Baton Rouge
A typical May 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 13 of May days (7.8%) 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 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 May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Baton Rouge runs above the national May norm; 7.8% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Baton Rouge's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.