Salt Lake City Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Salt Lake City's August air quality had a median AQI of 80 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Salt Lake City, UT area. 25.8% of August days (56 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 83.4% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2025 (median AQI 71, 5 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 100, 13 days above 100, peak AQI 164).
- Good: 9.2%
- Moderate: 65.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 21.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 4.6%
Extra Protection for Salt Lake City Homes
Air quality in Salt Lake City is moderate (AQI 52), 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 Salt Lake City in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 80 across 2019–2025, with 25.8% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓9.2% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 65.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓56 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 164.
- ✓Best August: 2025; worst August: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Salt Lake City in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Salt Lake City in August was 80 (Moderate). 9.2% of days were Good, 65.0% Moderate, and 25.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Salt Lake City?▾
A typical August day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 80): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of August days (25.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Salt Lake City's August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 83.4% of August days in Salt Lake City. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 164 (Unhealthy), in 2021.
Salt Lake City August air quality, year by year
Salt Lake City August air quality by year (Salt Lake City, UT, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 74 | 6 | 122 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 93 | 12 | 162 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 100 | 13 | 164 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 74 | 5 | 143 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 74 | 7 | 154 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 72 | 8 | 156 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 71 | 5 | 115 | O3 |
What August air means in Salt Lake City
A typical August day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 80): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 4 of August days (25.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
August's median AQI of 80 is above Salt Lake City's whole-year median of 57, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Salt Lake City runs above the national August norm; 25.8% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (above average).
August is part of Salt Lake City's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Salt Lake City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Salt Lake City's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Salt Lake City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Salt Lake City, UT), 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.