Akron Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Akron's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Akron, OH area. 3.6% of summer days (23 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 51.7% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2024 (median AQI 51, 1 day above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 58, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 230).
- Good: 43.8%
- Moderate: 52.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.6%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Akron
Today's main pollutant in Akron is ground-level ozone (AQI 44). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Akron in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 3.6% of summer days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓43.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓23 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 230.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Akron in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Akron in summer was 53 (Moderate). 43.8% of days were Good, 52.6% Moderate, and 3.6% 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 Akron?▾
A typical summer day in Akron is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 28 of summer days (3.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Akron's summer air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 51.7% of summer days in Akron. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 230 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Akron summer air quality, year by year
Akron summer air quality by year (Akron, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 49 | 2 | 115 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 55 | 3 | 107 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 54 | 3 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 51 | 4 | 159 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 58 | 7 | 230 | O3 |
| 2024cleanest | 92 | 51 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 55 | 3 | 150 | O3 |
What summer air means in Akron
A typical summer day in Akron is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 28 of summer days (3.6%) 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 53 is above Akron's whole-year median of 45, 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 Akron runs above the national Summer norm; 3.6% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 51, 0.0% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 53, 5.7% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Akron
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Akron's AQI at 44 (O3). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Akron air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Akron, OH), 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.