Columbia Air Quality in Spring
Across 2019–2025, Columbia's spring (March–May) air quality had a median AQI of 48 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Columbia, SC area. 0.3% of spring days (2 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.0% of days. The cleanest spring on record here was 2019 (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 50, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 123).
- Good: 56.1%
- Moderate: 43.6%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.3%
- 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 spring?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48 across 2019–2025, with 0.3% of spring days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓56.1% of spring days were Good (AQI 0–50), 43.6% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓2 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the spring peak was 141.
- ✓Cleanest month: April; worst month: March.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbia in spring?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbia in spring was 48 (Good). 56.1% of days were Good, 43.6% Moderate, and 0.3% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 644 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is spring a good time for outdoor exercise in Columbia?▾
A typical spring day in Columbia sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of spring days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Columbia's spring air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 57.0% of spring days in Columbia. The highest spring AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 141 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Columbia spring air quality, year by year
Columbia spring air quality by year (Columbia, SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 43 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 46 | 0 | 69 | O3 |
| 2021 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| 2022 | 92 | 50 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 50 | 1 | 123 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 49 | 1 | 141 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 49 | 0 | 83 | O3 |
What spring air means in Columbia
A typical spring day in Columbia sits in the Good range (median AQI 48), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of spring days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Spring's median AQI of 48 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 Spring AQI across every EPA metro area (307,196 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 43, so Columbia runs above the national Spring norm; 0.3% of its Spring days topped AQI 100 versus 0.8% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, April is the cleanest month (median AQI 47, 0.0% of days above 100) and March the worst (median 47, 0.9% above 100).
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 season 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.