Austin Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Austin's October air quality had a median AQI of 47 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Austin-Round Rock, TX area. 3.7% of October days (8 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 54.8% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2019 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2025 (median 52, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 119).
- Good: 60.4%
- Moderate: 35.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.7%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Austin Homes
Air quality in Austin is moderate (AQI 53), with fine particles (PM2.5) the main concern. A True-HEPA purifier gives sensitive groups — kids, seniors and anyone with asthma or allergies — cleaner air indoors on days like today.
Recommended: Coway AP-1512HH Mighty — True HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft
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How is the air in Austin in October?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 47 across 2019–2025, with 3.7% of October days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓60.4% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 35.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓8 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 136.
- ✓Best October: 2019; worst October: 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Austin in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Austin in October was 47 (Good). 60.4% of days were Good, 35.9% Moderate, and 3.7% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Austin?▾
A typical October day in Austin sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 27 of October days (3.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Austin's October air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 54.8% of October days in Austin. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 136 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2025.
Austin October air quality, year by year
Austin October air quality by year (Austin-Round Rock, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 44 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 45 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 49 | 3 | 108 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 44 | 0 | 77 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 50 | 1 | 136 | O3 |
| 2025worst | 31 | 52 | 3 | 119 | O3 |
What October air means in Austin
A typical October day in Austin sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; about 1 day in 27 of October days (3.7%) reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
October's median AQI of 47 is below Austin's whole-year median of 52, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Austin runs above the national October norm; 3.7% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
October is part of Austin's fall season (September, October, November); the fall page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Austin
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Austin's AQI at 53 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Austin air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Austin-Round Rock, TX), 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.