Buffalo Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's October air quality had a median AQI of 37 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY area. 0.0% of October days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 63.1% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2025 (median AQI 31, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 39, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 61).
- Good: 81.1%
- Moderate: 18.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Buffalo Homes
Air quality in Buffalo is moderate (AQI 54), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Buffalo in October?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 37 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓81.1% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 18.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 84.
- ✓Best October: 2025; worst October: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Buffalo in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in October was 37 (Good). 81.1% of days were Good, 18.9% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Buffalo?▾
A typical October day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 37), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of October days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Buffalo's October air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 63.1% of October days in Buffalo. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 84 (Moderate), in 2022.
Buffalo October air quality, year by year
Buffalo October air quality by year (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 38 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 35 | 0 | 57 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 38 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 39 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 37 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 38 | 0 | 74 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 31 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
What October air means in Buffalo
A typical October day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 37), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of October days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
October's median AQI of 37 is below Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, 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 Buffalo runs in line with the national October norm; 0.0% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (below average).
October is part of Buffalo's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Buffalo
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Buffalo's AQI at 54 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Buffalo air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY), 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.