McAllen Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, McAllen's May air quality had a median AQI of 59 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX area. 9.6% of May days (21 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.9% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 105, 18 days above 100, peak AQI 153).
- Good: 30.9%
- Moderate: 59.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 7.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.8%
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How is the air in McAllen in May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 59 across 2019–2025, with 9.6% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓30.9% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 59.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓21 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 153.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in McAllen in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in McAllen in May was 59 (Moderate). 30.9% of days were Good, 59.4% Moderate, and 9.6% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is May a good time for outdoor exercise in McAllen?▾
A typical May day in McAllen is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of May days (9.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes McAllen's May air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 82.9% of May days in McAllen. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 153 (Unhealthy), in 2024.
McAllen May air quality, year by year
McAllen May air quality by year (McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 63 | 2 | 106 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 61 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 105 | 18 | 153 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 63 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in McAllen
A typical May day in McAllen is Moderate (median AQI 59): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 10 of May days (9.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
May's median AQI of 59 is above McAllen's whole-year median of 50, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so McAllen runs above the national May norm; 9.6% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (above average).
May is part of McAllen's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in McAllen
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts McAllen's AQI at 43 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month 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.