Winston-Salem Air Quality in November

Across 2019–2025, Winston-Salem's November air quality had a median AQI of 52 (Moderate) over 210 monitored days in the Winston-Salem, NC area. 1.0% of November days (2 of 210) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 100.0% of days. The cleanest November on record here was 2022 (median AQI 48, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 49, 2 days above 100, peak AQI 124).

52
Median AQI
Moderate
1.0%
Days above AQI 100
2 of 210 days
64
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
124
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
100.0% of days
42.9%
Good days
90 of 210
  • Good: 42.9%
  • Moderate: 56.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Winston-Salem in November?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52 across 2019–2025, with 1.0% of November days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 42.9% of November days were Good (AQI 0–50), 56.2% Moderate (51–100).
  • 2 days of 210 reached AQI 101+; the November peak was 124.
  • Best November: 2022; worst November: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Winston-Salem in November?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Winston-Salem in November was 52 (Moderate). 42.9% of days were Good, 56.2% Moderate, and 1.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 210 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is November a good time for outdoor exercise in Winston-Salem?

A typical November day in Winston-Salem 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 100 of November days (1.0%) 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 November air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 100.0% of November days in Winston-Salem. The highest November AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 124 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2021.

Winston-Salem November air quality, year by year

Winston-Salem November air quality by year (Winston-Salem, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193053072PM2.5
20203057075PM2.5
2021worst30492124PM2.5
2022cleanest3048069PM2.5
20233052082PM2.5
20243048069PM2.5
20253056093PM2.5

What November air means in Winston-Salem

A typical November day in Winston-Salem 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 100 of November days (1.0%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.

November's median AQI of 52 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 November AQI across every EPA metro area (92,704 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 39, so Winston-Salem runs above the national November norm; 1.0% of its November days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).

November is part of Winston-Salem's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.