Charlotte Air Quality in August
Across 2019–2025, Charlotte's August air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area. 3.3% of August days (7 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.0% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 64, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 112).
- Good: 39.6%
- Moderate: 57.1%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.5%
Extra Protection for Charlotte Homes
Air quality in Charlotte is moderate (AQI 73), 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 Charlotte in August?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 3.3% of August days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓39.6% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 57.1% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓7 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 156.
- ✓Best August: 2022; worst August: 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charlotte in August?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charlotte in August was 53 (Moderate). 39.6% of days were Good, 57.1% Moderate, and 3.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Charlotte?▾
A typical August day in Charlotte is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of August days (3.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Charlotte's August air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.0% of August days in Charlotte. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 156 (Unhealthy), in 2019.
Charlotte August air quality, year by year
Charlotte August air quality by year (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 31 | 64 | 3 | 112 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 60 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 48 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 58 | 1 | 115 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 55 | 3 | 156 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 82 | PM2.5 |
What August air means in Charlotte
A typical August day in Charlotte is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 30 of August days (3.3%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
August's median AQI of 53 is in line with Charlotte's whole-year median of 52, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Charlotte runs above the national August norm; 3.3% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (about the same).
August is part of Charlotte's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Charlotte
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Charlotte's AQI at 73 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Charlotte air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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.