Nashville Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Nashville's July air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN area. 2.8% of July days (6 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 70.5% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2025 (median AQI 49, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 61, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 116).

53
Median AQI
Moderate
2.8%
Days above AQI 100
6 of 217 days
76
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
147
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
70.5% of days
36.9%
Good days
80 of 217
  • Good: 36.9%
  • Moderate: 60.4%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.8%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

Reduce Indoor Ozone in Nashville

Today's main pollutant in Nashville is ground-level ozone (AQI 64). 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.

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Nashville in July?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 2.8% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 36.9% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 60.4% Moderate (51–100).
  • 6 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 147.
  • Best July: 2025; worst July: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Nashville in July?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Nashville in July was 53 (Moderate). 36.9% of days were Good, 60.4% Moderate, and 2.8% 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 Nashville?

A typical July day in Nashville is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 36 of July days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Nashville's July air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 70.5% of July days in Nashville. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 147 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.

Nashville July air quality, year by year

Nashville July air quality by year (Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193155093PM2.5
20203152077PM2.5
2021worst31613116PM2.5
202231561147PM2.5
202331552126PM2.5
20243155087PM2.5
2025cleanest3149099PM2.5

What July air means in Nashville

A typical July day in Nashville is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 36 of July days (2.8%) 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 53 is in line with Nashville's whole-year median of 52, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Nashville runs above the national July norm; 2.8% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).

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

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

Right now in Nashville

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Nashville's AQI at 64 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Nashville air quality →

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