Charleston, WV Air Quality in October
Across 2019–2025, Charleston's October air quality had a median AQI of 34 (Good) over 211 monitored days in the Charleston, WV area. 0.0% of October days (0 of 211) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.6% of days. The cleanest October on record here was 2025 (median AQI 30, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2024 (median 42, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 57).
- Good: 88.6%
- Moderate: 11.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Charleston Homes
Air quality in Charleston is moderate (AQI 55), 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 Charleston in October?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 34 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of October days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓88.6% of October days were Good (AQI 0–50), 11.4% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 211 reached AQI 101+; the October peak was 67.
- ✓Best October: 2025; worst October: 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charleston in October?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charleston in October was 34 (Good). 88.6% of days were Good, 11.4% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 211 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is October a good time for outdoor exercise in Charleston?▾
A typical October day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 34), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of October days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Charleston's October air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 53.6% of October days in Charleston. The highest October AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 67 (Moderate), in 2024.
Charleston October air quality, year by year
Charleston October air quality by year (Charleston, WV, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31 | 32 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| 2020 | 31 | 37 | 0 | 55 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 31 | 32 | 0 | 53 | O3 |
| 2022 | 27 | 32 | 0 | 58 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 31 | 32 | 0 | 54 | PM2.5 |
| 2024worst | 29 | 42 | 0 | 57 | PM2.5 |
| 2025cleanest | 31 | 30 | 0 | 55 | PM2.5 |
What October air means in Charleston
A typical October day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 34), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of October days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
October's median AQI of 34 is below Charleston's whole-year median of 41, making it one of the area's cleaner periods. Nationally, the median October AQI across every EPA metro area (102,872 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 38, so Charleston runs below the national October norm; 0.0% of its October days topped AQI 100 versus 1.3% nationally (below average).
October is part of Charleston's fall season (September, October, November); the fall 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.