Charlotte Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Charlotte's May air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 217 monitored days in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC area. 0.5% of May days (1 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 56.2% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 55, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 101).
- Good: 46.1%
- Moderate: 53.5%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- 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 May?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 0.5% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓46.1% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 53.5% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 101.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charlotte in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charlotte in May was 52 (Moderate). 46.1% of days were Good, 53.5% Moderate, and 0.5% 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 Charlotte?▾
A typical May day in Charlotte 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 Charlotte's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 56.2% of May days in Charlotte. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 101 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Charlotte May air quality, year by year
Charlotte May 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 55 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 55 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2023 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2024 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 49 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Charlotte
A typical May day in Charlotte 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 Charlotte'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 Charlotte runs above the national May norm; 0.5% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (about the same).
May is part of Charlotte's spring season (March, April, May); the spring 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.