Cincinnati Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Cincinnati's July air quality had a median AQI of 65 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area. 8.7% of July days (19 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 55.3% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 60, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2020 (median 71, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 126).

65
Median AQI
Moderate
8.7%
Days above AQI 100
19 of 217 days
100
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
154
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
55.3% of days
12.0%
Good days
26 of 217
  • Good: 12.0%
  • Moderate: 79.3%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 7.8%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Cincinnati in July?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 65 across 2019–2025, with 8.7% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 12.0% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 79.3% Moderate (51–100).
  • 19 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 154.
  • Best July: 2022; worst July: 2020.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Cincinnati in July?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Cincinnati in July was 65 (Moderate). 12.0% of days were Good, 79.3% Moderate, and 8.7% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Cincinnati?

A typical July day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 65): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of July days (8.7%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Cincinnati's July air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 55.3% of July days in Cincinnati. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2020.

Cincinnati July air quality, year by year

Cincinnati July air quality by year (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
201931684140PM2.5
2020worst31714126O3
202131712122PM2.5
2022cleanest3160088PM2.5
202331644129O3
202431621108O3
202531654154PM2.5

What July air means in Cincinnati

A typical July day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 65): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 11 of July days (8.7%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

July's median AQI of 65 is above Cincinnati's whole-year median of 56, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Cincinnati runs above the national July norm; 8.7% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).

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

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

Right now in Cincinnati

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Cincinnati's AQI at 65 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Cincinnati air quality →

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