Dayton Air Quality in August

Across 2019–2025, Dayton's August air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Dayton, OH area. 0.9% of August days (2 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 58, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 126).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
0.9%
Days above AQI 100
2 of 217 days
73
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
126
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
58.5% of days
45.2%
Good days
98 of 217
  • Good: 45.2%
  • Moderate: 53.9%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.9%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Dayton in August?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.9% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 45.2% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.9% Moderate (51–100).
  • 2 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 126.
  • Best August: 2022; worst August: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Dayton in August?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Dayton in August was 52 (Moderate). 45.2% of days were Good, 53.9% Moderate, and 0.9% 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 Dayton?

A typical August day in Dayton is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of August days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Dayton's August air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of August days in Dayton. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 126 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.

Dayton August air quality, year by year

Dayton August air quality by year (Dayton, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193154093O3
20203152093PM2.5
20213157097PM2.5
2022cleanest3148077PM2.5
2023worst31581126PM2.5
202431501119O3
20253150098PM2.5

What August air means in Dayton

A typical August day in Dayton is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of August days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

August's median AQI of 52 is in line with Dayton's whole-year median of 51, 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 Dayton runs above the national August norm; 0.9% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).

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

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

Right now in Dayton

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Dayton's AQI at 50 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Dayton air quality →

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