Atlanta Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Atlanta's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 57 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA area. 8.1% of summer days (52 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.0% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2025 (median AQI 51, 2 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 67, 17 days above 100, peak AQI 172).
- Good: 25.3%
- Moderate: 66.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 7.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
Extra Protection for Atlanta Homes
Air quality in Atlanta is moderate (AQI 56), 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 Atlanta in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 57 across 2019–2025, with 8.1% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓25.3% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 66.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓52 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 172.
- ✓Cleanest month: July; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Atlanta in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Atlanta in summer was 57 (Moderate). 25.3% of days were Good, 66.6% Moderate, and 8.1% 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 Atlanta?▾
A typical summer day in Atlanta is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 12 of summer days (8.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Atlanta's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.0% of summer days in Atlanta. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 172 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Atlanta summer air quality, year by year
Atlanta summer air quality by year (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 60 | 8 | 150 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 56 | 2 | 125 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 57 | 7 | 150 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 55 | 4 | 169 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 67 | 17 | 172 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 63 | 12 | 161 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 92 | 51 | 2 | 129 | O3 |
What summer air means in Atlanta
A typical summer day in Atlanta is Moderate (median AQI 57): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 12 of summer days (8.1%) 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 57 is in line with Atlanta's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Atlanta runs above the national Summer norm; 8.1% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (above average).
Within the season, July is the cleanest month (median AQI 56, 6.0% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 58, 11.9% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Atlanta
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Atlanta's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Atlanta air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA), 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.