Harrisburg Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Harrisburg's August air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA area. 0.5% of August days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 68.7% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 45, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 101).
- Good: 46.5%
- Moderate: 53.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Harrisburg
Today's main pollutant in Harrisburg is ground-level ozone (AQI 48). 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 Harrisburg in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.5% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 101.
- ✓Best August: 2022; worst August: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Harrisburg in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Harrisburg in August was 51 (Moderate). 46.5% of days were Good, 53.0% Moderate, and 0.5% 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 Harrisburg?▾
A typical August day in Harrisburg is Moderate (median AQI 51): 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 Harrisburg's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 68.7% of August days in Harrisburg. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 101 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2025.
Harrisburg August air quality, year by year
Harrisburg August air quality by year (Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 45 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
What August air means in Harrisburg
A typical August day in Harrisburg is Moderate (median AQI 51): 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 51 is in line with Harrisburg's whole-year median of 50, 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 Harrisburg runs above the national August norm; 0.5% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).
August is part of Harrisburg's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Harrisburg
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Harrisburg's AQI at 48 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Harrisburg air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA), 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.