Buffalo Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 50 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY area. 3.8% of summer days (24 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 52.2% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 45, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 58, 11 days above 100, peak AQI 140).
- Good: 50.8%
- Moderate: 45.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
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
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How is the air in Buffalo in summer?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 50 across 2019–2025, with 3.8% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓50.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 45.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓24 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 176.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Buffalo in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in summer was 50 (Good). 50.8% of days were Good, 45.5% Moderate, and 3.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Buffalo?▾
A typical summer day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 26 of summer days (3.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Buffalo's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 52.2% of summer days in Buffalo. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 176 (Unhealthy), in 2025.
Buffalo summer air quality, year by year
Buffalo summer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 45 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 47 | 2 | 157 | O3 |
| 2021 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 45 | 2 | 150 | O3 |
| 2023 | 92 | 57 | 8 | 176 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 49 | 1 | 105 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 92 | 58 | 11 | 140 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Buffalo
A typical summer day in Buffalo sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 26 of summer days (3.8%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Summer's median AQI of 50 is above Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Buffalo runs above the national Summer norm; 3.8% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 46, 2.3% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 51, 5.7% above 100).
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 season 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.