New Orleans Air Quality in September
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's September air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 0.5% of September days (1 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.5% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2020 (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 54, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 101).
- Good: 42.9%
- Moderate: 56.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- 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 September?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of September days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓42.9% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 101.
- ✓Best September: 2020; worst September: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in September?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in September was 52 (Moderate). 42.9% of days were Good, 56.7% Moderate, and 0.5% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is September a good time for outdoor exercise in New Orleans?▾
A typical September 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 September 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 September air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.5% of September days in New Orleans. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 101 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2025.
New Orleans September air quality, year by year
New Orleans September 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 | 30 | 56 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 30 | 41 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 30 | 49 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 30 | 54 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 30 | 55 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| 2024 | 30 | 50 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 30 | 54 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
What September air means in New Orleans
A typical September 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 September days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
September'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 September AQI across every EPA metro area (100,699 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so New Orleans runs above the national September norm; 0.5% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (below average).
September 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.