Augusta Air Quality in May

Across 2019–2025, Augusta's May air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC area. 0.0% of May days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 63.6% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 50, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 55, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 68).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
64
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
87
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
63.6% of days
47.5%
Good days
103 of 217
  • Good: 47.5%
  • Moderate: 52.5%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Augusta in May?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 47.5% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 52.5% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 87.
  • Best May: 2020; worst May: 2019.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Augusta in May?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Augusta in May was 52 (Moderate). 47.5% of days were Good, 52.5% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Augusta?

A typical May day in Augusta is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of May days reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

Which pollutant causes Augusta's May air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 63.6% of May days in Augusta. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 87 (Moderate), in 2019.

Augusta May air quality, year by year

Augusta May air quality by year (Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
2019worst3155068PM2.5
2020cleanest3150062PM2.5
20213153087O3
20223152071PM2.5
20233151068PM2.5
20243150059PM2.5
20253150069PM2.5

What May air means in Augusta

A typical May day in Augusta is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of May days 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 52 is in line with Augusta's whole-year median of 52, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Augusta runs above the national May norm; 0.0% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (below average).

May is part of Augusta's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Augusta

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Augusta's AQI at 49 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.

View current Augusta air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC), 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.