Las Vegas Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Las Vegas's May air quality had a median AQI of 74 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV area. 11.1% of May days (24 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 96.8% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2019 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 87, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 129).
- Good: 10.6%
- Moderate: 78.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 10.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Las Vegas
Today's main pollutant in Las Vegas is ground-level ozone (AQI 31). 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 Las Vegas in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 74 across 2019–2025, with 11.1% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓10.6% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 78.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓24 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 152.
- ✓Best May: 2019; worst May: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Las Vegas in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Las Vegas in May was 74 (Moderate). 10.6% of days were Good, 78.3% Moderate, and 11.1% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Las Vegas?▾
A typical May day in Las Vegas is Moderate (median AQI 74): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of May days (11.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Las Vegas's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 96.8% of May days in Las Vegas. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 152 (Unhealthy), in 2024.
Las Vegas May air quality, year by year
Las Vegas May air quality by year (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 51 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 67 | 3 | 126 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 71 | 3 | 112 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 77 | 3 | 152 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 87 | 5 | 112 | O3 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 87 | 6 | 129 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 84 | 4 | 119 | O3 |
What May air means in Las Vegas
A typical May day in Las Vegas is Moderate (median AQI 74): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 9 of May days (11.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 74 is above Las Vegas's whole-year median of 62, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Las Vegas runs above the national May norm; 11.1% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Las Vegas's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Las Vegas
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Las Vegas's AQI at 31 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Las Vegas air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV), 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.