Dallas Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Dallas's October air quality had a median AQI of 55 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area. 14.8% of October days (32 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 60.4% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2019 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 77, 12 days above 100, peak AQI 154).
- Good: 33.6%
- Moderate: 51.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 14.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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 October?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 55 across 2019–2025, with 14.8% of October days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓33.6% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓32 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 154.
- ✓Best October: 2019; worst October: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Dallas in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Dallas in October was 55 (Moderate). 33.6% of days were Good, 51.6% Moderate, and 14.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Dallas?▾
A typical October day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 55): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of October days (14.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Dallas's October air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 60.4% of October days in Dallas. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2024.
Dallas October air quality, year by year
Dallas October 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 52 | 3 | 134 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 48 | 2 | 133 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 58 | 6 | 126 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 1 | 124 | O3 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 77 | 12 | 154 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 64 | 8 | 147 | O3 |
What October air means in Dallas
A typical October day in Dallas is Moderate (median AQI 55): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 7 of October days (14.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
October's median AQI of 55 is in line with Dallas's whole-year median of 58, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Dallas runs above the national October norm; 14.8% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
October is part of Dallas's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.