New York Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, New York's August air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 9.3% of August days (20 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 56.7% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2023 (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 58, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 154).
- Good: 26.7%
- Moderate: 64.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 8.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Extra Protection for New York Homes
Air quality in New York is moderate (AQI 52), 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 New York in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 9.3% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓26.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓20 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 154.
- ✓Best August: 2023; worst August: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New York in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New York in August was 61 (Moderate). 26.7% of days were Good, 64.1% Moderate, and 9.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in New York?▾
A typical August day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of August days (9.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes New York's August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 56.7% of August days in New York. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2021.
New York August air quality, year by year
New York August air quality by year (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 65 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 64 | 2 | 119 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 58 | 6 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 61 | 3 | 119 | O3 |
| 2023cleanest | 31 | 54 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 66 | 4 | 136 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 55 | 5 | 136 | O3 |
What August air means in New York
A typical August day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of August days (9.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
August's median AQI of 61 is above New York's whole-year median of 54, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so New York runs above the national August norm; 9.3% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).
August is part of New York's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in New York
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts New York's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current New York air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA), 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.