Denver, CO Air Quality Today
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · Data: WeatherAPI • EPA
Air quality in Denver is Good today, September 15. Fine particle and ozone readings are both low right now. Open the windows and keep your plans outside.
Level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale
What's in Denver's Air Right Now
Winter inversions trap exhaust against the Front Range in Denver, and summer adds ozone plus drifting wildfire smoke, mostly in July and August.
PM2.5 (fine particles): 4 µg/m³. Anything under 12 µg/m³ counts as clean, so fine particles aren't a concern right now. These particles come from exhaust and smoke and are small enough to reach deep into your lungs.
PM10 (coarse dust): 5 µg/m³. Readings under 54 µg/m³ rate Good. Dust and pollen fragments ride in this size range and irritate your nose and throat.
Ozone: 64 µg/m³. Ozone forms when sunlight cooks car exhaust, so hot afternoons read worst, usually between 2 PM and 7 PM. Mornings stay cleanest.
Nitrogen dioxide: 5.1 µg/m³. NO2 comes almost entirely from traffic and feeds afternoon ozone. Readings run highest near busy roads during the morning and evening commutes.
Is It Safe to Go Outside in Denver Today?
Yes. The air in Denver is clean today. Open the windows and keep your run outside. Kids can stay out as long as they want.
Days like this are worth using. If a long walk or a hard workout is on your list this week, today is the day for it.
Air Quality This Week in Denver
Air quality in Denver holds at Good every day through Saturday.
Each row is that day's average. Single hours run higher or lower, and the reading at the top of this page is a current measurement rather than an average.
Rain is likely Wednesday (71% chance). A steady shower scrubs particles out of the air, so the hours right after rain usually read cleanest.
Winds could reach 23 mph Friday. Gusty hours stir up dust and can bump particle readings until the wind settles.
Air Quality and Pollen Are Two Different Numbers
The air quality index tracks pollution: ozone, dust, smoke, and exhaust. Pollen isn't part of the score, so a Good air day in Denver can still be a rough allergy day.
Right now the biggest pollen load in Denver is weed pollen, rated Moderate. If your eyes itch while the air reads clean, pollen is the likely culprit.
Check today's Denver, CO pollen count →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AQI in Denver right now?
Today's air in Denver is rated Good, level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale. That's the cleanest category, with no limits on outdoor plans. The reading updates daily, so check back before you head out.
Is it safe to exercise outside in Denver today?
Yes. Clean air puts no limit on outdoor exercise today. Morning is still the best window in summer, since ozone builds through hot afternoons.
What will the air quality be tomorrow in Denver?
Tomorrow in Denver the forecast averages Good, level 1 of 6 on the EPA scale, with fine particles (PM2.5) near 7 µg/m³. That figure is a daily average, so a few hours can run higher or lower than the number here.
Does Denver have an air quality alert today?
Official alerts come from AirNow.gov and your state air agency, and MyPollenPal doesn't track them directly. Today's EPA category in Denver is Good. Days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse usually line up with an official alert.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / AirNow. "AQI Basics." airnow.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Particulate Matter (PM) Basics." epa.gov
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Ground-level Ozone Basics." epa.gov
Air Quality Is Half the Picture
Pollen fills in the rest. See today's tree, grass, and weed levels for Denver, or sign up for a morning email on days when pollen runs High or Very High.