New Orleans Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, New Orleans's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA area. 2.0% of summer days (13 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 70.8% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2025 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 57, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 119).
- Good: 42.9%
- Moderate: 55.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
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How is the air in New Orleans in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 2.0% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓42.9% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 55.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓13 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 119.
- ✓Cleanest month: July; worst month: August.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New Orleans in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New Orleans in summer was 52 (Moderate). 42.9% of days were Good, 55.1% Moderate, and 2.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in New Orleans?▾
A typical summer 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 50 of summer days (2.0%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 70.8% of summer days in New Orleans. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 119 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
New Orleans summer air quality, year by year
New Orleans summer 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 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 44 | 3 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 43 | 2 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 57 | 5 | 119 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 53 | 3 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 92 | 52 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in New Orleans
A typical summer 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 50 of summer days (2.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer'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 Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so New Orleans runs above the national Summer norm; 2.0% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, July is the cleanest month (median AQI 51, 0.0% of days above 100) and August the worst (median 52, 3.2% above 100).
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 season 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.