Charleston, WV Air Quality in Winter
Across 2019–2025, Charleston's winter (December–February) air quality had a median AQI of 39 (Good) over 629 monitored days in the Charleston, WV area. 0.0% of winter days (0 of 629) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.8% of days. The cleanest winter on record here was 2024 (median AQI 31, 0 days above 100) and the worst was 2022 (median 45, 0 days above 100, peak AQI 63).
- Good: 74.7%
- Moderate: 25.3%
- 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 winter?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 39 across 2019–2025, with 0.0% of winter days above AQI 100. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the main driver.
- ✓74.7% of winter days were Good (AQI 0–50), 25.3% Moderate (51–100).
- ✓0 days of 629 reached AQI 101+; the winter peak was 75.
- ✓Cleanest month: December; worst month: February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the air quality like in Charleston in winter?▾
Across 2019–2025, the median daily AQI in Charleston in winter was 39 (Good). 74.7% of days were Good, 25.3% Moderate, and 0.0% reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, based on 629 monitored days in EPA's Air Quality System.
Is winter a good time for outdoor exercise in Charleston?▾
A typical winter day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 39), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Which pollutant causes Charleston's winter air quality problems?▾
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 76.8% of winter days in Charleston. The highest winter AQI recorded in 2019–2025 was 75 (Moderate), in 2022.
Charleston winter air quality, year by year
Charleston winter air quality by year (Charleston, WV, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Year | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 90 | 43 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 91 | 40 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 90 | 43 | 0 | 73 | PM2.5 |
| 2022worst | 90 | 45 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| 2023 | 87 | 37 | 0 | 56 | PM2.5 |
| 2024cleanest | 91 | 31 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| 2025 | 90 | 40 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
What winter air means in Charleston
A typical winter day in Charleston sits in the Good range (median AQI 39), so running, cycling and children's outdoor play are fine for everyone on most days; fewer than 1% of winter days reached AQI 101+ in 2019–2025.
Winter's median AQI of 39 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 Winter AQI across every EPA metro area (278,620 metro-days, 2019–2025) is 40, so Charleston runs in line with the national Winter norm; 0.0% of its Winter days topped AQI 100 versus 0.6% nationally (about the same).
Within the season, December is the cleanest month (median AQI 38, 0.0% of days above 100) and February the worst (median 40, 0.0% 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.