Columbia Air Quality in March
Across 2019–2025, Columbia's March air quality had a median AQI of 47 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Columbia, SC area. 0.9% of March days (2 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.3% of days. The cleanest March on record here was 2019 (median AQI 47, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 49, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 123).
- Good: 58.1%
- Moderate: 41.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.9%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Columbia Homes
Air quality in Columbia 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 Columbia in March?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 47 across 2019–2025, with 0.9% of March days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓58.1% of March days were Good (AQI 0–50), 41.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the March peak was 141.
- ✓Best March: 2019; worst March: 2023.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbia in March?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbia in March was 47 (Good). 58.1% of days were Good, 41.0% Moderate, and 0.9% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is March a good time for outdoor exercise in Columbia?▾
A typical March day in Columbia sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of March days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Columbia's March air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 61.3% of March days in Columbia. The highest March AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 141 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Columbia March air quality, year by year
Columbia March air quality by year (Columbia, SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 31 | 47 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 72 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 31 | 49 | 1 | 123 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 43 | 1 | 141 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 83 | O3 |
What March air means in Columbia
A typical March day in Columbia sits in the Good range (median AQI 47), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of March days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
March's median AQI of 47 is in line with Columbia's whole-year median of 47, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median March AQI across every EPA metro area (102,455 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 42, so Columbia runs above the national March norm; 0.9% of its March days topped AQI 100 versus 0.4% nationally (about the same).
March is part of Columbia's spring season (March, April, May); the spring page pools all three months.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Columbia
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Columbia's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year month statistics, not today's reading.
View current Columbia air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Columbia, 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.