Las Vegas Air Quality in October

Across 2019–2025, Las Vegas's October air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV area. 1.9% of October days (4 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.0% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2025 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 68, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 128).

54
Median AQI
Moderate
1.9%
Days above AQI 100
4 of 217 days
71
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
197
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
53.0% of days
36.4%
Good days
79 of 217
  • Good: 36.4%
  • Moderate: 61.8%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Las Vegas in October?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 1.9% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 36.4% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 61.8% Moderate (51–100).
  • 4 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 197.
  • Best October: 2025; worst October: 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Las Vegas in October?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Las Vegas in October was 54 (Moderate). 36.4% of days were Good, 61.8% Moderate, and 1.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Las Vegas?

A typical October day in Las Vegas 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 53 of October days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Las Vegas's October air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.0% of October days in Las Vegas. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 197 (Unhealthy), in 2020.

Las Vegas October air quality, year by year

Las Vegas October air quality by year (Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193155097PM2.5
2020worst31681128PM2.5
202131501126PM2.5
202231521197PM2.5
20233151063PM2.5
202431551124O3
2025cleanest3148064O3

What October air means in Las Vegas

A typical October day in Las Vegas 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 53 of October days (1.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

October's median AQI of 54 is below Las Vegas's whole-year median of 62, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Las Vegas runs above the national October norm; 1.9% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).

October is part of Las Vegas's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.