Minneapolis Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Minneapolis's July air quality had a median AQI of 55 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI area. 8.8% of July days (19 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 55.8% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 50, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 66, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 175).
- Good: 32.3%
- Moderate: 59.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 5.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 3.7%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Minneapolis
Today's main pollutant in Minneapolis is ground-level ozone (AQI 25). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Minneapolis in July?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55 across 2019–2025, with 8.8% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓32.3% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓19 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 193.
- ✓Best July: 2022; worst July: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Minneapolis in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Minneapolis in July was 55 (Moderate). 32.3% of days were Good, 59.0% Moderate, and 8.8% 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 Minneapolis?▾
A typical July day in Minneapolis is Moderate (median AQI 55): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of July days (8.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Minneapolis's July air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 55.8% of July days in Minneapolis. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 193 (Unhealthy), in 2025.
Minneapolis July air quality, year by year
Minneapolis July air quality by year (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 44 | 3 | 163 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 66 | 5 | 193 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 50 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 60 | 5 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 58 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 66 | 5 | 175 | PM2.5 |
What July air means in Minneapolis
A typical July day in Minneapolis is Moderate (median AQI 55): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of July days (8.8%) 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 55 is above Minneapolis's whole-year median of 50, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Minneapolis runs above the national July norm; 8.8% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
July is part of Minneapolis's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Minneapolis
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Minneapolis's AQI at 25 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Minneapolis air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI), 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.