Rochester Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Rochester's July air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Rochester, NY area. 0.5% of July days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.1% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2020 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 53, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 136).
- Good: 56.2%
- Moderate: 43.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Rochester in July?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓56.2% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 43.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 136.
- ✓Best July: 2020; worst July: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Rochester in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Rochester in July was 48 (Good). 56.2% of days were Good, 43.3% Moderate, and 0.5% 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 Rochester?▾
A typical July day in Rochester sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of July days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Rochester's July air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.1% of July days in Rochester. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 136 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Rochester July air quality, year by year
Rochester July air quality by year (Rochester, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 46 | 0 | 92 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 45 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 53 | 1 | 136 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
What July air means in Rochester
A typical July day in Rochester sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of July days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
July's median AQI of 48 is above Rochester's whole-year median of 42, 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 Rochester runs in line with the national July norm; 0.5% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
July is part of Rochester's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Rochester, 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.