Albuquerque Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Albuquerque's August air quality had a median AQI of 64 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Albuquerque, NM area. 8.8% of August days (19 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 87.1% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2023 (median AQI 59, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 58, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 119).
- Good: 14.7%
- Moderate: 76.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 8.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Albuquerque
Today's main pollutant in Albuquerque is ground-level ozone (AQI 39). 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 Albuquerque in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 64 across 2019–2025, with 8.8% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓14.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 76.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓19 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 171.
- ✓Best August: 2023; worst August: 2020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Albuquerque in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Albuquerque in August was 64 (Moderate). 14.7% of days were Good, 76.5% Moderate, and 8.8% 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 Albuquerque?▾
A typical August day in Albuquerque is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of August 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 Albuquerque's August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 87.1% of August days in Albuquerque. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 171 (Unhealthy), in 2020.
Albuquerque August air quality, year by year
Albuquerque August air quality by year (Albuquerque, NM, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2020worst | 31 | 58 | 6 | 119 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 64 | 3 | 171 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 64 | 5 | 122 | O3 |
| 2023cleanest | 31 | 59 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 67 | 4 | 119 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 61 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
What August air means in Albuquerque
A typical August day in Albuquerque is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of August days (8.8%) 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 64 is in line with Albuquerque's whole-year median of 61, 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 Albuquerque runs above the national August norm; 8.8% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).
August is part of Albuquerque's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Albuquerque
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Albuquerque's AQI at 39 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Albuquerque air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Albuquerque, NM), 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.