Salt Lake City Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Salt Lake City's May air quality had a median AQI of 64 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Salt Lake City, UT area. 3.3% of May days (7 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 91.7% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 54, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 80, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 175).
- Good: 21.7%
- Moderate: 75.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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 May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 64 across 2019–2025, with 3.3% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓21.7% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 75.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓7 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 175.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Salt Lake City in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Salt Lake City in May was 64 (Moderate). 21.7% of days were Good, 75.1% Moderate, and 3.3% 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 Salt Lake City?▾
A typical May day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of May days (3.3%) 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 May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 91.7% of May days in Salt Lake City. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 175 (Unhealthy), in 2025.
Salt Lake City May air quality, year by year
Salt Lake City May 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 | 67 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 54 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 64 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 58 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 61 | 1 | 108 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 61 | 2 | 101 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 80 | 3 | 175 | O3 |
What May air means in Salt Lake City
A typical May day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 64): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of May days (3.3%) 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 64 is above Salt Lake City's whole-year median of 57, 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 Salt Lake City runs above the national May norm; 3.3% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Salt Lake City's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.