Winston-Salem Air Quality in Spring

Across 2019–2025, Winston-Salem's spring (March–May) air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Winston-Salem, NC area. 0.3% of spring days (2 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 55.9% of days. The cleanest spring on record here was 2020 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 53, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 105).

49
Median AQI
Good
0.3%
Days above AQI 100
2 of 644 days
66
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
111
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
O3
Main pollutant
55.9% of days
53.1%
Good days
342 of 644
  • Good: 53.1%
  • Moderate: 46.6%
  • 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 MightyTrue HEPA + carbon · CADR ~246 CFM · rooms up to 361 sq ft

Check Price on Amazon →

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Winston-Salem in spring?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 0.3% of spring days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.

  • 53.1% of spring days were Good (AQI 0–50), 46.6% Moderate (51–100).
  • 2 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the spring peak was 111.
  • Cleanest month: May; worst month: April.

Frequently asked questions

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

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Winston-Salem in spring was 49 (Good). 53.1% of days were Good, 46.6% Moderate, and 0.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

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

A typical spring day in Winston-Salem sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of spring days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Winston-Salem's spring air quality problems?

Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 55.9% of spring days in Winston-Salem. The highest spring AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 111 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.

Winston-Salem spring air quality, year by year

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

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20199253084PM2.5
2020cleanest9244067O3
20219249087O3
20229249090O3
2023worst92531105O3
202492491111O3
20259251090O3

What spring air means in Winston-Salem

A typical spring day in Winston-Salem sits in the Good range (median AQI 49), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of spring days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Spring's median AQI of 49 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 Spring AQI across every EPA metro area (307,196 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Winston-Salem runs above the national Spring norm; 0.3% of its Spring days topped AQI 100 versus 0.8% nationally (about the same).

Within the season, May is the cleanest month (median AQI 50, 0.0% of days above 100) and April the worst (median 51, 0.5% 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.