Kansas City Air Quality in August

Across 2019–2025, Kansas City's August air quality had a median AQI of 55 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Kansas City, MO-KS area. 4.2% of August days (9 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.6% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2019 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 58, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 112).

55
Median AQI
Moderate
4.2%
Days above AQI 100
9 of 217 days
81
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
157
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
57.6% of days
32.7%
Good days
71 of 217
  • Good: 32.7%
  • Moderate: 63.1%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.7%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Kansas City in August?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55 across 2019–2025, with 4.2% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 32.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 63.1% Moderate (51–100).
  • 9 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 157.
  • Best August: 2019; worst August: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Kansas City in August?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Kansas City in August was 55 (Moderate). 32.7% of days were Good, 63.1% Moderate, and 4.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Kansas City?

A typical August day in Kansas City 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 24 of August days (4.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Kansas City's August air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.6% of August days in Kansas City. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 157 (Unhealthy), in 2023.

Kansas City August air quality, year by year

Kansas City August air quality by year (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest3151077PM2.5
20203154093PM2.5
202131572145PM2.5
202231551112O3
2023worst31582112O3
202431542122O3
202531552157PM2.5

What August air means in Kansas City

A typical August day in Kansas City 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 24 of August days (4.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

August's median AQI of 55 is in line with Kansas City's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Kansas City runs above the national August norm; 4.2% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (about the same).

August is part of Kansas City's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Kansas City

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Kansas City's AQI at 64 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Kansas City air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Kansas City, MO-KS), 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.