Charlotte Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Charlotte's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area. 1.1% of fall days (7 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.9% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2020 (median AQI 45, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 55, 7 days above 100, peak AQI 136).
- Good: 47.9%
- Moderate: 51.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.1%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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 fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 1.1% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓47.9% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 51.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓7 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 136.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst month: September.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charlotte in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charlotte in fall was 51 (Moderate). 47.9% of days were Good, 51.0% Moderate, and 1.1% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 637 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is fall a good time for outdoor exercise in Charlotte?▾
A typical fall day in Charlotte is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 91 of fall days (1.1%) 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 fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 65.9% of fall days in Charlotte. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 136 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2019.
Charlotte fall air quality, year by year
Charlotte fall 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 | 91 | 55 | 7 | 136 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 91 | 45 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 91 | 48 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 91 | 51 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 51 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 91 | 49 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Charlotte
A typical fall day in Charlotte is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 91 of fall days (1.1%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Fall's median AQI of 51 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 Fall AQI across every EPA metro area (296,275 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Charlotte runs above the national Fall norm; 1.1% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, November is the cleanest month (median AQI 52, 0.0% of days above 100) and September the worst (median 51, 2.4% above 100).
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 season 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.