Albuquerque Air Quality in September
Across 2019–2025, Albuquerque's September air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Albuquerque, NM area. 2.9% of September days (6 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 67.1% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2023 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 48, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 108).
- Good: 38.6%
- Moderate: 58.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.4%
- 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 September?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 2.9% of September days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓38.6% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 58.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓6 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 214.
- ✓Best September: 2023; worst September: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Albuquerque in September?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Albuquerque in September was 54 (Moderate). 38.6% of days were Good, 58.6% Moderate, and 2.9% 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 Albuquerque?▾
A typical September day in Albuquerque is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 34 of September days (2.9%) 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 September air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 67.1% of September days in Albuquerque. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 214 (Very Unhealthy), in 2019.
Albuquerque September air quality, year by year
Albuquerque September air quality by year (Albuquerque, NM, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 30 | 48 | 2 | 108 | O3 |
| 2020 | 30 | 64 | 1 | 214 | O3 |
| 2021 | 30 | 61 | 1 | 112 | O3 |
| 2022 | 30 | 51 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2023cleanest | 30 | 48 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| 2024 | 30 | 62 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2025 | 30 | 52 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
What September air means in Albuquerque
A typical September day in Albuquerque is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 34 of September days (2.9%) 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 54 is below Albuquerque's whole-year median of 61, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median September AQI across every EPA metro area (100,699 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Albuquerque runs above the national September norm; 2.9% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (about the same).
September is part of Albuquerque's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.