Buffalo Air Quality in September

Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's September air quality had a median AQI of 41 (Good) over 210 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY area. 0.0% of September days (0 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 54.3% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2022 (median AQI 33, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 50, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 65).

41
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 210 days
58
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
80
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
54.3% of days
72.4%
Good days
152 of 210
  • Good: 72.4%
  • Moderate: 27.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Buffalo in September?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 41 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of September days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 72.4% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 27.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 80.
  • Best September: 2022; worst September: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Buffalo in September?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in September was 41 (Good). 72.4% of days were Good, 27.6% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Buffalo?

A typical September day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 41), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of September days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Buffalo's September air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 54.3% of September days in Buffalo. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 80 (Moderate), in 2023.

Buffalo September air quality, year by year

Buffalo September air quality by year (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193038067O3
20203038080O3
20213039057PM2.5
2022cleanest3033061PM2.5
2023worst3050065PM2.5
20243044071O3
20253046077O3

What September air means in Buffalo

A typical September day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 41), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of September days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

September's median AQI of 41 is in line with Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median September AQI across every EPA metro area (100,699 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Buffalo runs in line with the national September norm; 0.0% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (below average).

September 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.