Winston-Salem Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Winston-Salem's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 53 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Winston-Salem, NC area. 1.6% of summer days (10 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 62.4% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2025 (median AQI 51, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 59, 6 days above 100, peak AQI 154).
- Good: 39.6%
- Moderate: 58.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 1.4%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
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 summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 53 across 2019–2025, with 1.6% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓39.6% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 58.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓10 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 154.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Winston-Salem in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Winston-Salem in summer was 53 (Moderate). 39.6% of days were Good, 58.9% Moderate, and 1.6% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is summer a good time for outdoor exercise in Winston-Salem?▾
A typical summer day in Winston-Salem is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 63 of summer days (1.6%) 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 summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 62.4% of summer days in Winston-Salem. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 154 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Winston-Salem summer air quality, year by year
Winston-Salem summer air quality by year (Winston-Salem, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 54 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 52 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 52 | 0 | 86 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 59 | 6 | 154 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 54 | 3 | 122 | O3 |
| 2025cleanest | 92 | 51 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Winston-Salem
A typical summer day in Winston-Salem is Moderate (median AQI 53): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 63 of summer days (1.6%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Summer's median AQI of 53 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 Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Winston-Salem runs above the national Summer norm; 1.6% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 53, 0.9% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 54, 2.4% 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.