Birmingham Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Birmingham's August air quality had a median AQI of 58 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL area. 3.2% of August days (7 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 77.4% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2025 (median AQI 45, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 70, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 189).
- Good: 23.0%
- Moderate: 73.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Birmingham
Today's main pollutant in Birmingham is ground-level ozone (AQI 30). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How is the air in Birmingham in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58 across 2019–2025, with 3.2% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓23.0% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 73.7% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓7 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 189.
- ✓Best August: 2025; worst August: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Birmingham in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Birmingham in August was 58 (Moderate). 23.0% of days were Good, 73.7% Moderate, and 3.2% 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 Birmingham?▾
A typical August day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 31 of August days (3.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Birmingham's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 77.4% of August days in Birmingham. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 189 (Unhealthy), in 2021.
Birmingham August air quality, year by year
Birmingham August air quality by year (Birmingham-Hoover, AL, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 70 | 4 | 189 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 64 | 2 | 126 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 62 | 1 | 102 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 45 | 0 | 58 | O3 |
What August air means in Birmingham
A typical August day in Birmingham is Moderate (median AQI 58): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 31 of August days (3.2%) 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 58 is in line with Birmingham's whole-year median of 56, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Birmingham runs above the national August norm; 3.2% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (about the same).
August is part of Birmingham's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Birmingham
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Birmingham's AQI at 30 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Birmingham air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Birmingham-Hoover, AL), 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.