New Orleans Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's October air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 0.0% of October days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.4% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2020 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 97).
- Good: 46.5%
- Moderate: 53.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in New Orleans, 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 New Orleans in October?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.5% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 97.
- ✓Best October: 2020; worst October: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in October was 52 (Moderate). 46.5% of days were Good, 53.5% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in New Orleans?▾
A typical October 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 October 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 October air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.4% of October days in New Orleans. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 97 (Moderate), in 2024.
New Orleans October air quality, year by year
New Orleans October 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 | 49 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 57 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
What October air means in New Orleans
A typical October 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 October days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
October'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 October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so New Orleans runs above the national October norm; 0.0% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (below average).
October is part of New Orleans's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.