New Orleans Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's July air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 0.0% of July days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 75.1% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 59, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 76).
- Good: 47.5%
- Moderate: 52.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in New Orleans in July?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓47.5% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 100.
- ✓Best July: 2022; worst July: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in July was 51 (Moderate). 47.5% of days were Good, 52.5% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in New Orleans?▾
A typical July day in New Orleans is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of July 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 July air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 75.1% of July days in New Orleans. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 100 (Moderate), in 2020.
New Orleans July air quality, year by year
New Orleans July 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 | 52 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2020worst | 31 | 59 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 42 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 41 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 57 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
What July air means in New Orleans
A typical July day in New Orleans is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of July days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
July's median AQI of 51 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 July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so New Orleans runs above the national July norm; 0.0% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
July 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.