Cincinnati Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Cincinnati's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN area. 10.5% of summer days (68 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.9% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2022 (median AQI 60, 6 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 70, 22 days above 100, peak AQI 197).
- Good: 13.8%
- Moderate: 75.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 9.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.2%
Extra Protection for Cincinnati Homes
Air quality in Cincinnati is moderate (AQI 65), 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 Cincinnati in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 10.5% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓13.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 75.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓68 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 197.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Cincinnati in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Cincinnati in summer was 61 (Moderate). 13.8% of days were Good, 75.6% Moderate, and 10.5% 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 Cincinnati?▾
A typical summer day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of summer days (10.5%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.9% of summer days in Cincinnati. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 197 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Cincinnati summer air quality, year by year
Cincinnati summer air quality by year (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 62 | 7 | 140 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 61 | 6 | 126 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 60 | 7 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 92 | 60 | 6 | 151 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 70 | 22 | 197 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 61 | 12 | 147 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 60 | 8 | 154 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Cincinnati
A typical summer day in Cincinnati is Moderate (median AQI 61): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of summer days (10.5%) 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 61 is above Cincinnati's whole-year median of 56, 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 Cincinnati runs above the national Summer norm; 10.5% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 58, 6.5% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 61, 16.7% above 100).
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 season 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.