New Orleans Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's May air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 2.8% of May days (6 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 50.7% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2021 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 64, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 112).
- Good: 44.2%
- Moderate: 53.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in New Orleans in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 2.8% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓44.2% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓6 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 112.
- ✓Best May: 2021; worst May: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in May was 52 (Moderate). 44.2% of days were Good, 53.0% Moderate, and 2.8% 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 New Orleans?▾
A typical May 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 36 of May days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes New Orleans's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 50.7% of May days in New Orleans. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
New Orleans May air quality, year by year
New Orleans May 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 | 53 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| 2021cleanest | 31 | 43 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 57 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 64 | 4 | 112 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 57 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
What May air means in New Orleans
A typical May 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 36 of May days (2.8%) 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 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 May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so New Orleans runs above the national May norm; 2.8% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of New Orleans's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.