Columbus Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Columbus's May air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Columbus, OH 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 58.5% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 42, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 54, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 90).
- Good: 54.8%
- Moderate: 45.2%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Columbus Homes
Air quality in Columbus is moderate (AQI 58), 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 Columbus in May?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of May days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓54.8% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 45.2% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 97.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbus in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbus in May was 49 (Good). 54.8% of days were Good, 45.2% 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 Columbus?▾
A typical May day in Columbus 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 May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Columbus's May air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 58.5% of May days in Columbus. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 97 (Moderate), in 2024.
Columbus May air quality, year by year
Columbus May air quality by year (Columbus, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 77 | O3 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 42 | 0 | 54 | O3 |
| 2021 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 53 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| 2024worst | 31 | 54 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| 2025 | 31 | 43 | 0 | 97 | O3 |
What May air means in Columbus
A typical May day in Columbus 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 May days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
May's median AQI of 49 is below Columbus's whole-year median of 53, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Columbus 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 Columbus's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Columbus
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Columbus's AQI at 58 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Columbus air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Columbus, OH), 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.