New Orleans Air Quality in 2020
In 2020, New Orleans's air quality (New Orleans-Metairie, LA area) had a median daily AQI of 48 (Good) across 366 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 199 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 90 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 237 of those days. The cleanest month of 2020 was September (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 59, 0 days above 100, peak 76).
- Good: 54.4%
- Moderate: 45.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was New Orleans's air quality in 2020?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 1st cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2020: 90 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 237 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: September; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in New Orleans in 2020?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts New Orleans's (New Orleans-Metairie, LA) median daily AQI for 2020 at 48, which is Good. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 90.
Which month had the worst air quality in New Orleans in 2020?▾
The cleanest month of 2020 was September (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 59, 0 days above 100, peak 76).
Was 2020 a good or bad year for New Orleans's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here. 2020's median of 48 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 49.
New Orleans month by month in 2020
New Orleans air quality month by month, 2020 (New Orleans-Metairie, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 43 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| February | 29 | 49 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 42 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 52 | 0 | 71 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 49 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 51 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 59 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| Septembercleanest | 30 | 41 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 47 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 45 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 49 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
How 2020 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2020 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here.
2020's median of 48 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 49.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in New Orleans
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts New Orleans's AQI at 29 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current New Orleans air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (New Orleans-Metairie, LA), 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.