Houston Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Houston's July air quality had a median AQI of 62 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX area. 7.4% of July days (16 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.0% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 55, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 73, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 174).
- Good: 10.1%
- Moderate: 82.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 2.8%
Extra Protection for Houston Homes
Air quality in Houston is moderate (AQI 57), 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 Houston in July?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 62 across 2019–2025, with 7.4% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓10.1% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 82.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓16 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 179.
- ✓Best July: 2022; worst July: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Houston in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Houston in July was 62 (Moderate). 10.1% of days were Good, 82.5% Moderate, and 7.4% 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 Houston?▾
A typical July day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 62): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 14 of July days (7.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Houston's July air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.0% of July days in Houston. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 179 (Unhealthy), in 2024.
Houston July air quality, year by year
Houston July air quality by year (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 58 | 2 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 59 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 63 | 2 | 179 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 55 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 71 | 2 | 129 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 73 | 7 | 174 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 66 | 3 | 172 | PM2.5 |
What July air means in Houston
A typical July day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 62): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 14 of July days (7.4%) 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 62 is in line with Houston's whole-year median of 61, 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 Houston runs above the national July norm; 7.4% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
July is part of Houston's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Houston
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Houston's AQI at 57 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Houston air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, 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.