Austin Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Austin's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Austin-Round Rock, TX area. 1.4% of summer days (9 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 73.3% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 62, 4 days above 100, peak AQI 115).
- Good: 35.2%
- Moderate: 63.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
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 summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 1.4% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓35.2% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 63.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓9 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 154.
- ✓Cleanest month: July; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Austin in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Austin in summer was 54 (Moderate). 35.2% of days were Good, 63.4% Moderate, and 1.4% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Austin?▾
A typical summer day in Austin is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of summer 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 Austin's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 73.3% of summer days in Austin. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Austin summer air quality, year by year
Austin summer 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 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 54 | 1 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 52 | 2 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 62 | 4 | 115 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 54 | 2 | 122 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 55 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Austin
A typical summer day in Austin is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 71 of summer days (1.4%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 54 is in line with Austin's whole-year median of 52, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Austin runs above the national Summer norm; 1.4% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, July is the cleanest month (median AQI 56, 0.5% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 55, 1.9% above 100).
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 season 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.