Charleston, SC Air Quality in July
Across 2019–2025, Charleston's July air quality had a median AQI of 45 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC area. 0.0% of July days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.6% of days. The cleanest July on record here was 2022 (median AQI 39, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 52, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 93).
- Good: 62.7%
- Moderate: 37.3%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Charleston
Today's main pollutant in Charleston is ground-level ozone (AQI 31). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How is the air in Charleston in July?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 45 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of July days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓62.7% of July days were Good (AQI 0–50), 37.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the July peak was 93.
- ✓Best July: 2022; worst July: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charleston in July?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charleston in July was 45 (Good). 62.7% of days were Good, 37.3% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is July a good time for outdoor exercise in Charleston?▾
A typical July day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 45), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of July days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Charleston's July air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 86.6% of July days in Charleston. The highest July AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 93 (Moderate), in 2023.
Charleston July air quality, year by year
Charleston July air quality by year (Charleston-North Charleston, SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 44 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 44 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 31 | 39 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 42 | 0 | 61 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 45 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
What July air means in Charleston
A typical July day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 45), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of July days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
July's median AQI of 45 is in line with Charleston's whole-year median of 47, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median July AQI across every EPA metro area (103,858 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 47, so Charleston runs in line with the national July norm; 0.0% of its July days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
July is part of Charleston's summer season (June, July, August); the summer page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Charleston
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Charleston's AQI at 31 (O3). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Charleston air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Charleston-North Charleston, SC), 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.