Kansas City Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Kansas City's May air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Kansas City, MO-KS area. 2.8% of May days (6 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 59.9% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 74, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 129).
- Good: 49.3%
- Moderate: 47.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Kansas City
Today's main pollutant in Kansas City is ground-level ozone (AQI 31). 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 Kansas City in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 2.8% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓49.3% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 47.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓6 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 129.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Kansas City in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Kansas City in May was 51 (Moderate). 49.3% of days were Good, 47.9% Moderate, and 2.8% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in Kansas City?▾
A typical May day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 36 of May days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Kansas City's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 59.9% of May days in Kansas City. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 129 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Kansas City May air quality, year by year
Kansas City May air quality by year (Kansas City, MO-KS, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 74 | 6 | 129 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
What May air means in Kansas City
A typical May day in Kansas City is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 36 of May days (2.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 51 is in line with Kansas City's whole-year median of 54, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Kansas City runs above the national May norm; 2.8% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of Kansas City's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Kansas City
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Kansas City's AQI at 31 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Kansas City air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Kansas City, MO-KS), 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.