New Orleans Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's August air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 3.2% of August days (7 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 69.6% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 60, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 115).
- Good: 40.6%
- Moderate: 56.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in New Orleans in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 3.2% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓40.6% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓7 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 115.
- ✓Best August: 2022; worst August: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in August was 52 (Moderate). 40.6% of days were Good, 56.2% Moderate, and 3.2% 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 New Orleans?▾
A typical August day in New Orleans is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 31 of August days (3.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes New Orleans's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 69.6% of August days in New Orleans. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 115 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
New Orleans August air quality, year by year
New Orleans August air quality by year (New Orleans-Metairie, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 53 | 2 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 37 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 60 | 3 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 59 | 2 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
What August air means in New Orleans
A typical August day in New Orleans is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 31 of August days (3.2%) 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 52 is in line with New Orleans's whole-year median of 49, 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 New Orleans runs above the national August norm; 3.2% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (about the same).
August is part of New Orleans's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in New Orleans
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts New Orleans's AQI at 43 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current New Orleans air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (New Orleans-Metairie, 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.