El Paso Air Quality in October

Across 2019–2025, El Paso's October air quality had a median AQI of 56 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the El Paso, TX area. 3.7% of October days (8 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 46.1% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2019 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 67, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 311).

56
Median AQI
Moderate
3.7%
Days above AQI 100
8 of 217 days
81
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
311
Peak AQI
Hazardous
PM2.5
Main pollutant
46.1% of days
32.3%
Good days
70 of 217
  • Good: 32.3%
  • Moderate: 64.1%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.2%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in El Paso in October?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 56 across 2019–2025, with 3.7% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 32.3% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 64.1% Moderate (51–100).
  • 8 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 311.
  • Best October: 2019; worst October: 2024.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in El Paso in October?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in El Paso in October was 56 (Moderate). 32.3% of days were Good, 64.1% Moderate, and 3.7% 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 El Paso?

A typical October day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 27 of October days (3.7%) 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 October air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 46.1% of October days in El Paso. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 311 (Hazardous), in 2024.

El Paso October air quality, year by year

El Paso October air quality by year (El Paso, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest3146067PM2.5
20203168098PM2.5
20213156084PM2.5
20223152063PM2.5
202331562113PM10
2024worst31676311PM10
20253155083PM10

What October air means in El Paso

A typical October day in El Paso is Moderate (median AQI 56): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 27 of October days (3.7%) 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 56 is in line with El Paso's whole-year median of 59, 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 El Paso runs above the national October norm; 3.7% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).

October is part of El Paso's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.