New York Air Quality in September
Across 2019–2025, New York's September air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 2.4% of September days (5 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.1% of days. The cleanest September on record here was 2022 (median AQI 50, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 52, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 140).
- Good: 46.2%
- Moderate: 51.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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 September?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 2.4% of September days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.2% of September days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓5 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the September peak was 140.
- ✓Best September: 2022; worst September: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New York in September?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New York in September was 52 (Moderate). 46.2% of days were Good, 51.4% Moderate, and 2.4% 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 New York?▾
A typical September day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 42 of September days (2.4%) 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 September air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 67.1% of September days in New York. The highest September AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 140 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
New York September air quality, year by year
New York September 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 | 30 | 52 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 30 | 53 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 30 | 52 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 30 | 50 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 30 | 52 | 2 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 47 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
| 2025 | 30 | 57 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
What September air means in New York
A typical September day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 42 of September days (2.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
September's median AQI of 52 is in line with New York's whole-year median of 54, 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 New York runs above the national September norm; 2.4% of its September days topped AQI 100 versus 2.7% nationally (about the same).
September is part of New York's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.