New Orleans Air Quality in 2022
In 2022, New Orleans's air quality (New Orleans-Metairie, LA area) had a median daily AQI of 52 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 3 days (0.8%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 158 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 108 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 279 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was August (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 55, 2 days above 100, peak 103).
- Good: 43.3%
- Moderate: 55.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in New Orleans, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How was New Orleans's air quality in 2022?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52, with 3 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 5th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2022: 108 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 279 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst: June.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in New Orleans in 2022?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts New Orleans's (New Orleans-Metairie, LA) median daily AQI for 2022 at 52, which is Moderate. 3 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 108.
Which month had the worst air quality in New Orleans in 2022?▾
The cleanest month of 2022 was August (median AQI 37, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 55, 2 days above 100, peak 103).
Was 2022 a good or bad year for New Orleans's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2022's median of 52 is above the area's typical annual median of 49.
New Orleans month by month in 2022
New Orleans air quality month by month, 2022 (New Orleans-Metairie, LA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 55 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 54 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 52 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 57 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| Juneworst | 30 | 55 | 2 | 103 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 41 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| Augustcleanest | 31 | 37 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 54 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 54 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 52 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 48 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
How 2022 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2022's median of 52 is above 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.