Charleston, WV Air Quality in August

Across 2019–2025, Charleston's August air quality had a median AQI of 44 (Good) over 217 monitored days in the Charleston, WV area. 0.0% of August days (0 of 217) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.5% of days. The cleanest August on record here was 2022 (median AQI 38, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2021 (median 54, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 90).

44
Median AQI
Good
0.0%
Days above AQI 100
0 of 217 days
61
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
93
Peak AQI
Moderate
PM2.5
Main pollutant
53.5% of days
66.8%
Good days
145 of 217
  • Good: 66.8%
  • Moderate: 33.2%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How is the air in Charleston in August?

Good on a typical day: median AQI 44 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of August days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.

  • 66.8% of August days were Good (AQI 0–50), 33.2% Moderate (51–100).
  • 0 days of 217 reached AQI 101+; the August peak was 93.
  • Best August: 2022; worst August: 2021.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air quality like in Charleston in August?

Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charleston in August was 44 (Good). 66.8% of days were Good, 33.2% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 217 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.

Is August a good time for outdoor exercise in Charleston?

A typical August day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 44), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of August days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

Which pollutant causes Charleston's August air quality problems?

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.5% of August days in Charleston. The highest August AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 93 (Moderate), in 2021.

Charleston August air quality, year by year

Charleston August air quality by year (Charleston, WV, EPA AQS daily AQI)

YearDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
20193144093O3
20203144060PM2.5
2021worst3154090PM2.5
2022cleanest3138061O3
20233144064PM2.5
20243146090O3
20253143064PM2.5

What August air means in Charleston

A typical August day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 44), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of August days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.

August's median AQI of 44 is in line with Charleston's whole-year median of 41, so this period is neither a clean nor a dirty stretch for the area. Nationally, the median August AQI across every EPA metro area (104,152 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 45, so Charleston runs in line with the national August norm; 0.0% of its August days topped AQI 100 versus 3.5% nationally (below average).

August 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 55 (PM2.5). 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, WV), 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.