Winston-Salem Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Winston-Salem's May air quality had a median AQI of 50 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Winston-Salem, NC area. 0.0% of May days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.9% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 40, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 54, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 90).
- Good: 50.7%
- Moderate: 49.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- 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 May?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 50 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓50.7% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 49.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 90.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2022.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Winston-Salem in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Winston-Salem in May was 50 (Good). 50.7% of days were Good, 49.3% Moderate, and 0.0% 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 Winston-Salem?▾
A typical May day in Winston-Salem sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Winston-Salem's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 53.9% of May days in Winston-Salem. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 90 (Moderate), in 2022.
Winston-Salem May air quality, year by year
Winston-Salem May air quality by year (Winston-Salem, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 40 | 0 | 61 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 54 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| 2022worst | 31 | 54 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 74 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 46 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Winston-Salem
A typical May day in Winston-Salem sits in the Good range (median AQI 50), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
May's median AQI of 50 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 May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Winston-Salem runs above the national May norm; 0.0% of its May days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (below average).
May is part of Winston-Salem's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
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 month 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.