Philadelphia Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Philadelphia's July air quality had a median AQI of 67 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area. 13.9% of July days (30 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 54.8% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2025 (median AQI 61, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 74, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 122).
- Good: 16.6%
- Moderate: 69.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 13.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Philadelphia
Today's main pollutant in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia in July?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 67 across 2019–2025, with 13.9% of July days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓16.6% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 69.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓30 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 153.
- ✓Best July: 2025; worst July: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Philadelphia in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Philadelphia in July was 67 (Moderate). 16.6% of days were Good, 69.6% Moderate, and 13.9% 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 Philadelphia?▾
A typical July day in Philadelphia is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of July days (13.9%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Philadelphia's July air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 54.8% of July days in Philadelphia. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 153 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Philadelphia July air quality, year by year
Philadelphia July air quality by year (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 67 | 6 | 150 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 61 | 3 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 67 | 6 | 153 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 70 | 2 | 119 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 74 | 7 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 67 | 4 | 143 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 61 | 2 | 136 | O3 |
What July air means in Philadelphia
A typical July day in Philadelphia is Moderate (median AQI 67): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of July days (13.9%) 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 67 is above Philadelphia'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 Philadelphia runs above the national July norm; 13.9% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
July is part of Philadelphia's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Philadelphia
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Philadelphia's AQI at 44 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Philadelphia air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD), 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.