Cleveland Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Cleveland's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 59 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Cleveland-Elyria, OH area. 7.9% of summer days (51 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 56.1% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2021 (median AQI 61, 4 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 70, 14 days above 100, peak AQI 285).
- Good: 24.8%
- Moderate: 67.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 6.7%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.2%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Cleveland
Today's main pollutant in Cleveland 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 Cleveland in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 59 across 2019–2025, with 7.9% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓24.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 67.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓51 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 285.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Cleveland in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Cleveland in summer was 59 (Moderate). 24.8% of days were Good, 67.2% Moderate, and 7.9% 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 Cleveland?▾
A typical summer day in Cleveland is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 13 of summer days (7.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Cleveland's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 56.1% of summer days in Cleveland. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 285 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Cleveland summer air quality, year by year
Cleveland summer air quality by year (Cleveland-Elyria, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 56 | 6 | 119 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 56 | 9 | 155 | O3 |
| 2021cleanest | 92 | 61 | 4 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 55 | 7 | 158 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 70 | 14 | 285 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 63 | 6 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 67 | 5 | 150 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Cleveland
A typical summer day in Cleveland is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 13 of summer days (7.9%) 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 59 is above Cleveland's whole-year median of 55, 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 Cleveland runs above the national Summer norm; 7.9% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 56, 2.3% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 62, 12.4% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Cleveland
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Cleveland's AQI at 44 (O3). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Cleveland air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Cleveland-Elyria, 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.