Winston-Salem Air Quality in Fall
Across 2019–2025, Winston-Salem's fall (September–November) air quality had a median AQI of 51 (Moderate) over 637 monitored days in the Winston-Salem, NC area. 0.3% of fall days (2 of 637) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.3% of days. The cleanest fall on record here was 2022 (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 47, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 124).
- Good: 48.8%
- Moderate: 50.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.3%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Winston-Salem Homes
Air quality in Winston-Salem is moderate (AQI 52), 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 Winston-Salem in fall?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 51 across 2019–2025, with 0.3% of fall days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓48.8% of fall days were Good (AQI 0–50), 50.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 637 reached AQI 101+; the fall peak was 124.
- ✓Cleanest month: October; worst month: November.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Winston-Salem in fall?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Winston-Salem in fall was 51 (Moderate). 48.8% of days were Good, 50.9% Moderate, and 0.3% 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 Winston-Salem?▾
A typical fall day in Winston-Salem is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of fall 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 Winston-Salem's fall air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.3% of fall days in Winston-Salem. The highest fall AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 124 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.
Winston-Salem fall air quality, year by year
Winston-Salem fall air quality by year (Winston-Salem, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 91 | 51 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| 2021worst | 91 | 47 | 2 | 124 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 91 | 46 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 91 | 48 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 91 | 52 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
What fall air means in Winston-Salem
A typical fall day in Winston-Salem is Moderate (median AQI 51): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and fewer than 1% of fall days 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 Winston-Salem's whole-year median of 50, 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 Winston-Salem runs above the national Fall norm; 0.3% of its Fall days topped AQI 100 versus 1.5% nationally (below average).
Within the season, October is the cleanest month (median AQI 47, 0.0% of days above 100) and November the worst (median 52, 1.0% above 100).
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Winston-Salem
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Winston-Salem's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year season statistics, not today's reading.
View current Winston-Salem air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Winston-Salem, 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.