Houston Air Quality in Spring
Across 2019–2025, Houston's spring (March–May) air quality had a median AQI of 63 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX area. 10.1% of spring days (65 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.3% of days. The cleanest spring on record here was 2021 (median AQI 58, 4 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 68, 14 days above 100, peak AQI 205).
- Good: 11.2%
- Moderate: 78.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 8.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.7%
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
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Houston in spring?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 63 across 2019–2025, with 10.1% of spring days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓11.2% of spring days were Good (AQI 0–50), 78.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓65 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the spring peak was 205.
- ✓Cleanest month: March; worst month: May.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Houston in spring?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Houston in spring was 63 (Moderate). 11.2% of days were Good, 78.7% Moderate, and 10.1% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is spring a good time for outdoor exercise in Houston?▾
A typical spring day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 63): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of spring days (10.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Houston's spring air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.3% of spring days in Houston. The highest spring AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 205 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Houston spring air quality, year by year
Houston spring 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 | 92 | 62 | 10 | 133 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 61 | 5 | 151 | PM2.5 |
| 2021cleanest | 92 | 58 | 4 | 161 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 63 | 10 | 164 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 68 | 14 | 205 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 64 | 12 | 182 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 66 | 10 | 179 | PM2.5 |
What spring air means in Houston
A typical spring day in Houston is Moderate (median AQI 63): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of spring days (10.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Spring's median AQI of 63 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 Spring AQI across every EPA metro area (307,196 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Houston runs above the national Spring norm; 10.1% of its Spring days topped AQI 100 versus 0.8% nationally (above average).
Within the season, March is the cleanest month (median AQI 59, 3.7% of days above 100) and May the worst (median 64, 16.6% above 100).
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 season 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.