New York Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, New York's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 64 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area. 18.2% of summer days (117 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 59.9% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2020 (median AQI 64, 10 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 72, 22 days above 100, peak AQI 156).
- Good: 19.4%
- Moderate: 62.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 15.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 2.8%
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
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in New York in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 64 across 2019–2025, with 18.2% of summer days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓19.4% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 62.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓117 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 278.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: July.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in New York in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in New York in summer was 64 (Moderate). 19.4% of days were Good, 62.4% Moderate, and 18.2% 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 New York?▾
A typical summer day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 5 of summer days (18.2%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 59.9% of summer days in New York. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 278 (Very Unhealthy), in 2024.
New York summer air quality, year by year
New York summer 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 | 92 | 66 | 14 | 150 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 92 | 64 | 10 | 140 | O3 |
| 2021 | 92 | 62 | 19 | 156 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 62 | 11 | 161 | O3 |
| 2023 | 92 | 63 | 19 | 278 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 92 | 72 | 22 | 156 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 68 | 22 | 161 | O3 |
What summer air means in New York
A typical summer day in New York is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 5 of summer days (18.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 64 is above New York's whole-year median of 54, 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 New York runs above the national Summer norm; 18.2% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 61, 9.3% of days above 100) and July the worst (median 80, 26.3% above 100).
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 season 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.