Syracuse Air Quality in August

Across 2019–2025, Syracuse's August air quality had a median AQI of 39 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Syracuse, NY area. 1.4% of August days (3 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 52.1% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2020 (median AQI 36, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 47, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 125).

39
Median AQI
Good
1.4%
Days above AQI 100
3 of 217 days
59
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
125
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
O3
Main pollutant
52.1% of days
73.7%
Good days
160 of 217
  • Good: 73.7%
  • Moderate: 24.9%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Syracuse in August?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 39 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 73.7% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 24.9% Moderate (51–100).
  • 3 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 125.
  • Best August: 2020; worst August: 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Syracuse in August?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Syracuse in August was 39 (Good). 73.7% of days were Good, 24.9% Moderate, and 1.4% 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 Syracuse?

A typical August day in Syracuse sits in the Good range (median AQI 39), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 71 of August days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Syracuse's August air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 52.1% of August days in Syracuse. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 125 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2025.

Syracuse August air quality, year by year

Syracuse August air quality by year (Syracuse, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193137054O3
2020cleanest3136054O3
20213147071PM2.5
20223137051O3
20233136063PM2.5
20243141061PM2.5
2025worst31473125O3

What August air means in Syracuse

A typical August day in Syracuse sits in the Good range (median AQI 39), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 71 of August days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

August's median AQI of 39 is in line with Syracuse's whole-year median of 38, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Syracuse runs below the national August norm; 1.4% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).

August is part of Syracuse's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Syracuse

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Syracuse's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Syracuse air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Syracuse, 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.