Dallas Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Dallas's May air quality had a median AQI of 64 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area. 16.1% of May days (35 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 55.8% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2021 (median AQI 51, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 76, 9 days above 100, peak AQI 136).
- Good: 22.6%
- Moderate: 61.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 15.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%
Extra Protection for Dallas Homes
Air quality in Dallas is moderate (AQI 55), 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 Dallas in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 64 across 2019–2025, with 16.1% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓22.6% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 61.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓35 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 151.
- ✓Best May: 2021; worst May: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Dallas in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Dallas in May was 64 (Moderate). 22.6% of days were Good, 61.3% Moderate, and 16.1% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Dallas?▾
A typical May day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of May days (16.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Dallas's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 55.8% of May days in Dallas. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 151 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Dallas May air quality, year by year
Dallas May air quality by year (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 55 | 5 | 133 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 61 | 4 | 151 | O3 |
| 2021cleanest | 31 | 51 | 2 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 64 | 5 | 151 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 76 | 9 | 136 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 80 | 6 | 126 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 69 | 4 | 136 | O3 |
What May air means in Dallas
A typical May day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 6 of May days (16.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 64 is above Dallas's whole-year median of 58, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Dallas runs above the national May norm; 16.1% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Dallas's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Dallas
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Dallas's AQI at 55 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Dallas air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX), 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.