New Orleans Air Quality in February
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's February air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 198 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 0.0% of February days (0 of 198) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 74.2% of days. The cleanest February on record here was 2019 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 76).
- Good: 44.9%
- Moderate: 55.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in New Orleans in February?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of February days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓44.9% of February days were Good (AQI 0–50), 55.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 198 reached AQI 101+; the February peak was 90.
- ✓Best February: 2019; worst February: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in February?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in February was 52 (Moderate). 44.9% of days were Good, 55.1% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 198 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is February a good time for outdoor exercise in New Orleans?▾
A typical February 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 fewer than 1% of February days 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 February air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 74.2% of February days in New Orleans. The highest February AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 90 (Moderate), in 2025.
New Orleans February air quality, year by year
New Orleans February air quality by year (New Orleans-Metairie, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 28 | 47 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 29 | 49 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 28 | 48 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 28 | 54 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 28 | 52 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 29 | 52 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2025worst | 28 | 57 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
What February air means in New Orleans
A typical February 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 fewer than 1% of February days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
February'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 February AQI across every EPA metro area (87,428 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 41, so New Orleans runs above the national February norm; 0.0% of its February days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
February is part of New Orleans's winter season (December, January, February); the winter 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.