Columbus Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Columbus's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 54 (Moderate) over 644 monitored days in the Columbus, OH area. 3.8% of summer days (24 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 50.5% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2021 (median AQI 52, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 64, 12 days above 100, peak AQI 210).
- Good: 38.4%
- Moderate: 57.9%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 3.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.8%
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 summer?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 54 across 2019–2025, with 3.8% of summer days above AQI 100. Ground-level ozone is the main driver.
- ✓38.4% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 57.9% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓24 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 210.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbus in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbus in summer was 54 (Moderate). 38.4% of days were Good, 57.9% Moderate, and 3.8% 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 Columbus?▾
A typical summer day in Columbus is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 26 of summer days (3.8%) reached AQI 101+ — the level at which EPA advises people with asthma, children and older adults to shorten hard outdoor exertion.
Which pollutant causes Columbus's summer air quality problems?▾
Ground-level ozone set the daily AQI on 50.5% of summer days in Columbus. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 210 (Very Unhealthy), in 2023.
Columbus summer air quality, year by year
Columbus summer air quality by year (Columbus, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 52 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 51 | 2 | 101 | O3 |
| 2021cleanest | 92 | 52 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 49 | 3 | 143 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 64 | 12 | 210 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 57 | 2 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 59 | 4 | 156 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Columbus
A typical summer day in Columbus is Moderate (median AQI 54): outdoor exercise is acceptable for most people, but unusually sensitive individuals should watch for symptoms, and about 1 day in 26 of summer days (3.8%) 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 54 is in line with Columbus's whole-year median of 53, 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 Columbus runs above the national Summer norm; 3.8% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 52, 0.5% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 56, 8.1% above 100).
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 season 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.