Durham Air Quality in 2024
In 2024, Durham's air quality (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area) had a median daily AQI of 51 (Moderate) across 366 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 169 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 97 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 285 of those days. The cleanest month of 2024 was November (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was February (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak 80).
- Good: 46.2%
- Moderate: 53.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Durham's air quality in 2024?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 366 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2024: 97 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 285 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: November; worst: February.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Durham in 2024?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Durham's (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC) median daily AQI for 2024 at 51, which is Moderate. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 97.
Which month had the worst air quality in Durham in 2024?▾
The cleanest month of 2024 was November (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was February (median 57, 0 days above 100, peak 80).
Was 2024 a good or bad year for Durham's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2024 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2024's median of 51 is above the area's typical annual median of 44.
Durham month by month in 2024
Durham air quality month by month, 2024 (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 54 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| Februaryworst | 29 | 57 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 47 | 0 | 89 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 55 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 46 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| June | 30 | 53 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 49 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 53 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 43 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 46 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| Novembercleanest | 30 | 42 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 48 | 0 | 65 | PM2.5 |
How 2024 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2024 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2024's median of 51 is above the area's typical annual median of 44.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Durham
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Durham's AQI at 41 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Durham air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Durham-Chapel Hill, NC), 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.