Salt Lake City Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Salt Lake City's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 77 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Salt Lake City, UT area. 21.2% of summer days (137 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 82.1% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 73, 12 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 97, 39 days above 100, peak AQI 177).
- Good: 8.7%
- Moderate: 70.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 18.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 2.3%
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 summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 77 across 2019–2025, with 21.2% of summer days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓8.7% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 70.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓137 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 214.
- ✓Cleanest month: June; worst month: July.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Salt Lake City in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Salt Lake City in summer was 77 (Moderate). 8.7% of days were Good, 70.0% Moderate, and 21.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Salt Lake City?▾
A typical summer day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 77): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 5 of summer days (21.2%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 82.1% of summer days in Salt Lake City. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 214 (Very Unhealthy), in 2021.
Salt Lake City summer air quality, year by year
Salt Lake City summer air quality by year (Salt Lake City, UT, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 73 | 12 | 129 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 76 | 20 | 214 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 92 | 97 | 39 | 177 | O3 |
| 2022 | 92 | 74 | 13 | 147 | O3 |
| 2023 | 92 | 74 | 12 | 154 | O3 |
| 2024 | 92 | 82 | 28 | 156 | O3 |
| 2025 | 92 | 71 | 13 | 143 | O3 |
What summer air means in Salt Lake City
A typical summer day in Salt Lake City is Moderate (median AQI 77): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 5 of summer days (21.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 77 is above Salt Lake City's whole-year median of 57, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Salt Lake City runs above the national Summer norm; 21.2% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, June is the cleanest month (median AQI 71, 9.5% of days above 100) and July the worst (median 84, 28.1% above 100).
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 season 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.