Buffalo Air Quality in July

Across 2019–2025, Buffalo's July air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY area. 3.2% of July days (7 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.9% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2019 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 60, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 115).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
3.2%
Days above AQI 100
7 of 217 days
83
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
157
Peak AQI
Unhealthy
PM2.5
Main pollutant
53.9% of days
45.2%
Good days
98 of 217
  • Good: 45.2%
  • Moderate: 51.6%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.3%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.9%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Buffalo in July?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 3.2% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • ✓45.2% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • ✓7 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 157.
  • ✓Best July: 2019; worst July: 2025.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Buffalo in July?▾

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Buffalo in July was 52 (Moderate). 45.2% of days were Good, 51.6% Moderate, and 3.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Buffalo?▾

A typical July day in Buffalo 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 31 of July days (3.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Buffalo's July air quality problems?▾

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.9% of July days in Buffalo. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 157 (Unhealthy), in 2025.

Buffalo July air quality, year by year

Buffalo July air quality by year (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019cleanest3152093PM2.5
202031462157O3
20213153099PM2.5
202231461127O3
202331551129PM2.5
20243154084O3
2025worst31603115PM2.5

What July air means in Buffalo

A typical July day in Buffalo 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 31 of July days (3.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

July's median AQI of 52 is above Buffalo's whole-year median of 44, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Buffalo runs above the national July norm; 3.2% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).

July is part of Buffalo's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Buffalo

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Buffalo's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Buffalo air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY), 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.