Pittsburgh Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Pittsburgh's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 61 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Pittsburgh, PA area. 5.6% of summer days (36 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 66.6% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 61, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 67, 15 days above 100, peak AQI 237).
- Good: 18.3%
- Moderate: 76.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
Extra Protection for Pittsburgh Homes
Air quality in Pittsburgh is moderate (AQI 56), 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.
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How is the air in Pittsburgh in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61 across 2019–2025, with 5.6% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓18.3% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 76.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓36 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 237.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Pittsburgh in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Pittsburgh in summer was 61 (Moderate). 18.3% of days were Good, 76.1% Moderate, and 5.6% 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 Pittsburgh?▾
A typical summer day in Pittsburgh 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 18 of summer days (5.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Pittsburgh's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 66.6% of summer days in Pittsburgh. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 237 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Pittsburgh summer air quality, year by year
Pittsburgh summer air quality by year (Pittsburgh, PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 61 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 59 | 6 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 62 | 4 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 61 | 2 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 67 | 15 | 237 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 62 | 7 | 129 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 63 | 2 | 131 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Pittsburgh
A typical summer day in Pittsburgh 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 18 of summer days (5.6%) 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 in line with Pittsburgh's whole-year median of 58, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Pittsburgh runs above the national Summer norm; 5.6% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 59, 2.8% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 63, 8.6% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Pittsburgh
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Pittsburgh's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Pittsburgh air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Pittsburgh, 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.