Columbia Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Columbia's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 49 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Columbia, SC area. 0.9% of summer days (6 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.2% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2022 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 55, 3 days above 100, peak AQI 113).
- Good: 52.8%
- Moderate: 46.3%
- 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 summer?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 49 across 2019–2025, with 0.9% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓52.8% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 46.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓6 days of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 117.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Columbia in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Columbia in summer was 49 (Good). 52.8% of days were Good, 46.3% Moderate, and 0.9% 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 Columbia?▾
A typical summer 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 summer days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Columbia's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.2% of summer days in Columbia. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 117 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), in 2023.
Columbia summer air quality, year by year
Columbia summer air quality by year (Columbia, SC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 92 | 50 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 92 | 47 | 1 | 117 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 52 | 2 | 102 | PM2.5 |
| 2022cleanest | 92 | 44 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 55 | 3 | 113 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 52 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 45 | 0 | 77 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Columbia
A typical summer 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 summer days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Summer'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 Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Columbia runs in line with the national Summer norm; 0.9% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 49, 0.0% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 50, 1.4% 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.