El Paso Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, El Paso's May air quality had a median AQI of 69 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the El Paso, TX area. 7.8% of May days (17 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 47.5% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2022 (median AQI 64, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 82, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 403).
- Good: 10.1%
- Moderate: 82.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 5.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 2.3%
Extra Protection for El Paso Homes
Air quality in El Paso is moderate (AQI 54), 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 El Paso in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 69 across 2019–2025, with 7.8% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓10.1% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 82.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓17 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 403.
- ✓Best May: 2022; worst May: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in El Paso in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in El Paso in May was 69 (Moderate). 10.1% of days were Good, 82.0% Moderate, and 7.8% 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 El Paso?▾
A typical May day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 69): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 13 of May days (7.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes El Paso's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 47.5% of May days in El Paso. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 403 (Hazardous), in 2025.
El Paso May air quality, year by year
El Paso May air quality by year (El Paso, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 67 | 3 | 159 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 62 | 2 | 115 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 67 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 64 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 67 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 77 | 3 | 122 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 82 | 7 | 403 | PM10 |
What May air means in El Paso
A typical May day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 69): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 13 of May days (7.8%) 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 69 is above El Paso's whole-year median of 59, 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 El Paso runs above the national May norm; 7.8% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of El Paso's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in El Paso
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts El Paso's AQI at 54 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current El Paso air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (El Paso, 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.