Columbia Air Quality in May
Across 2019–2025, Columbia's May air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Columbia, SC area. 0.0% of May days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.4% of days. The cleanest May on record here was 2020 (median AQI 45, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 53, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 77).
- Good: 53.0%
- Moderate: 47.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- 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 May?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of May days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓53.0% of May days were Good (AQI 0–50), 47.0% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the May peak was 93.
- ✓Best May: 2020; worst May: 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbia in May?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbia in May was 49 (Good). 53.0% of days were Good, 47.0% 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 Columbia?▾
A typical May day in Columbia 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 Columbia's May air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 59.4% of May days in Columbia. The highest May AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 93 (Moderate), in 2021.
Columbia May air quality, year by year
Columbia May air quality by year (Columbia, SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 47 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| 2020cleanest | 31 | 45 | 0 | 56 | O3 |
| 2021worst | 31 | 53 | 0 | 77 | O3 |
| 2022 | 31 | 52 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 51 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 31 | 48 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 31 | 50 | 0 | 60 | PM2.5 |
What May air means in Columbia
A typical May day in Columbia 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 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 May AQI across every EPA metro area (104,064 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 44, so Columbia 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 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.