McAllen Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, McAllen's air quality (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX area) had a median daily AQI of 52 (Moderate) across 363 monitored days. 2 days (0.6%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 169 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 108 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 278 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was November (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 53, 1 day above 100, peak 105).
- Good: 46.6%
- Moderate: 52.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.6%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was McAllen's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52, with 2 days above AQI 100 out of 363 monitored — the 3rd cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 108 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 278 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst: September.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in McAllen in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts McAllen's (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX) median daily AQI for 2021 at 52, which is Moderate. 2 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 108.
Which month had the worst air quality in McAllen in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was November (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was September (median 53, 1 day above 100, peak 105).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for McAllen's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 52 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 50.
McAllen month by month in 2021
McAllen air quality month by month, 2021 (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 46 | 0 | 78 | PM2.5 |
| February | 26 | 54 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 54 | 0 | 83 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 72 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 53 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 49 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 55 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 52 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| Septemberworst | 30 | 53 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 49 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| Novembercleanest | 30 | 41 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 55 | 1 | 108 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 3rd cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 52 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 50.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in McAllen
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts McAllen's AQI at 40 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current McAllen air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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.