Madison Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Madison's July air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Madison, WI area. 2.7% of July days (6 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.1% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 54, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 154).

49
Median AQI
Good
2.7%
Days above AQI 100
6 of 217 days
70
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
170
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
58.1% of days
52.5%
Good days
114 of 217
  • Good: 52.5%
  • Moderate: 44.7%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.8%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Madison in July?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 2.7% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 52.5% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 44.7% Moderate (51–100).
  • 6 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 170.
  • Best July: 2022; worst July: 2023.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Madison in July?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Madison in July was 49 (Good). 52.5% of days were Good, 44.7% Moderate, and 2.7% 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 Madison?

A typical July day in Madison sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 37 of July days (2.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Madison's July air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.1% of July days in Madison. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 170 (Unhealthy), in 2023.

Madison July air quality, year by year

Madison July air quality by year (Madison, WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193145093PM2.5
202031411105PM2.5
20213160086PM2.5
2022cleanest3144061PM2.5
2023worst31543154O3
20243144064O3
202531562170PM2.5

What July air means in Madison

A typical July day in Madison sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 37 of July days (2.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

July's median AQI of 49 is above Madison's whole-year median of 45, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Madison runs in line with the national July norm; 2.7% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).

July is part of Madison's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Madison

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Madison's AQI at 49 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Madison air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Madison, WI), 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.