Knoxville Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Knoxville's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Knoxville, TN area. 2.0% of summer days (13 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.9% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2020 (median AQI 50, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 57, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 149).
- Good: 37.6%
- Moderate: 60.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Knoxville Homes
Air quality in Knoxville is moderate (AQI 61), 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.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in Knoxville in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 2.0% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓37.6% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓13 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 149.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Knoxville in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Knoxville in summer was 54 (Moderate). 37.6% of days were Good, 60.4% Moderate, and 2.0% 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 Knoxville?▾
A typical summer day in Knoxville is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 50 of summer days (2.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Knoxville's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 64.9% of summer days in Knoxville. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 149 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Knoxville summer air quality, year by year
Knoxville summer air quality by year (Knoxville, TN, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 54 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 92 | 50 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 55 | 3 | 110 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 53 | 1 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 57 | 7 | 149 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 56 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 50 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Knoxville
A typical summer day in Knoxville is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 50 of summer days (2.0%) 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 54 is in line with Knoxville's whole-year median of 52, 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 Knoxville runs above the national Summer norm; 2.0% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 52, 0.9% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 55, 2.9% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Knoxville
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Knoxville's AQI at 61 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Knoxville air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Knoxville, TN), 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.