Raleigh Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Raleigh's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 46 (Good) over 632 monitored days in the Raleigh, NC area. 0.0% of winter days (0 of 632) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 74.8% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2025 (median AQI 39, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2019 (median 54, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 76).
- Good: 58.2%
- Moderate: 41.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Even with good outdoor air in Raleigh, indoor PM2.5, dust and allergens build up. A True-HEPA purifier keeps a bedroom or office consistently clean.
Recommended: Levoit Core 400S — True HEPA · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Raleigh in winter?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 46 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓58.2% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 41.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 632 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 81.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst month: December.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Raleigh in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Raleigh in winter was 46 (Good). 58.2% of days were Good, 41.8% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 632 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Raleigh?▾
A typical winter day in Raleigh sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Raleigh's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 74.8% of winter days in Raleigh. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 81 (Moderate), in 2019.
Raleigh winter air quality, year by year
Raleigh winter air quality by year (Raleigh, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019worst | 90 | 54 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 43 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 46 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 90 | 49 | 0 | 81 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 90 | 44 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 41 | 0 | 79 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 90 | 39 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Raleigh
A typical winter day in Raleigh sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Winter's median AQI of 46 is in line with Raleigh's whole-year median of 48, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Raleigh runs above the national Winter norm; 0.0% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, January is the cleanest month (median AQI 44, 0.0% of days above 100) and December the worst (median 49, 0.0% 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.