Raleigh Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Raleigh's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 643 monitored days in the Raleigh, NC area. 1.2% of summer days (8 of 643) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 72.9% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2025 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 56, 5 days above 100, peak AQI 130).
- Good: 42.5%
- Moderate: 56.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How is the air in Raleigh in summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 1.2% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓42.5% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓8 days of 643 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 140.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Raleigh in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Raleigh in summer was 52 (Moderate). 42.5% of days were Good, 56.3% Moderate, and 1.2% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 643 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Raleigh?▾
A typical summer day in Raleigh is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 83 of summer days (1.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Raleigh's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 72.9% of summer days in Raleigh. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 140 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Raleigh summer air quality, year by year
Raleigh summer air quality by year (Raleigh, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 52 | 1 | 101 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 52 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 50 | 1 | 140 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 56 | 5 | 130 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 53 | 1 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 92 | 46 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Raleigh
A typical summer day in Raleigh is Moderate (median AQI 52): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 83 of summer days (1.2%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 52 is above Raleigh's whole-year median of 48, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Raleigh runs above the national Summer norm; 1.2% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 50, 0.5% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 54, 2.9% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Raleigh
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Raleigh's AQI at 47 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Raleigh air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Raleigh, 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.