Charleston, WV Air Quality in Summer
Across 2019–2025, Charleston's summer (June–August) air quality had a median AQI of 46 (Good) over 644 monitored days in the Charleston, WV area. 0.2% of summer days (1 of 644) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of days. The cleanest summer on record here was 2019 (median AQI 44, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2023 (median 46, 1 day above 100, peak AQI 153).
- Good: 61.0%
- Moderate: 38.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.2%
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 summer?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 46 across 2019–2025, with 0.2% of summer days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓61.0% of summer days were Good (AQI 0–50), 38.8% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓1 day of 644 reached AQI 101+; the summer peak was 153.
- ✓Cleanest month: August; worst month: June.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charleston in summer?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charleston in summer was 46 (Good). 61.0% of days were Good, 38.8% Moderate, and 0.2% 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 Charleston?▾
A typical summer day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), 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 Charleston's summer air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 58.5% of summer days in Charleston. The highest summer AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 153 (Unhealthy), in 2023.
Charleston summer air quality, year by year
Charleston summer air quality by year (Charleston, WV, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019cleanest | 92 | 44 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| 2020 | 92 | 45 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 92 | 53 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 92 | 46 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| 2023worst | 92 | 46 | 1 | 153 | PM2.5 |
| 2024 | 92 | 46 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 92 | 45 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
What summer air means in Charleston
A typical summer day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 46), 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 46 is above Charleston's whole-year median of 41, making it one of the area's dirtier periods. Nationally, the median Summer AQI across every EPA metro area (308,645 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 46, so Charleston runs in line with the national Summer norm; 0.2% of its Summer days topped AQI 100 versus 3.6% nationally (below average).
Within the season, August is the cleanest month (median AQI 44, 0.0% of days above 100) and June the worst (median 47, 0.5% above 100).
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 season 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.