Minneapolis Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Minneapolis's August air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI area. 1.4% of August days (3 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.9% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 56, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 173).
- Good: 46.1%
- Moderate: 52.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
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How is the air in Minneapolis in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓46.1% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓3 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 173.
- ✓Best August: 2022; worst August: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Minneapolis in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Minneapolis in August was 52 (Moderate). 46.1% of days were Good, 52.5% Moderate, and 1.4% 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 Minneapolis?▾
A typical August day in Minneapolis is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of August days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Minneapolis's August air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.9% of August days in Minneapolis. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 173 (Unhealthy), in 2025.
Minneapolis August air quality, year by year
Minneapolis August air quality by year (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 70 | PM10 |
| 2020 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 94 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 66 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 56 | 2 | 173 | PM2.5 |
What August air means in Minneapolis
A typical August day in Minneapolis is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of August days (1.4%) 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 52 is in line with Minneapolis's whole-year median of 50, 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 Minneapolis runs above the national August norm; 1.4% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).
August is part of Minneapolis's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Minneapolis
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Minneapolis's AQI at 15 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Minneapolis air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-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.