EnviroNearby

Forsyth County, North Carolina air quality history

Daily Air Quality Index summaries from EPA monitors in Forsyth, North Carolina, 1980–2025.

64%
Good days in 2025
45
Median daily AQI, 2025
0
Days above 100 in 2025
365
Days with an AQI in 2025 (of 365)

In 2025, EPA reported a daily Air Quality Index (AQI) for Forsyth, North Carolina on 365 days. 232 of those days (64%) were in the Good range, and the median daily AQI was 45. That median is higher than the typical monitored county in North Carolina (median 39 across 33 counties), and higher than the typical monitored U.S. county (40). The main pollutant was fine particles (PM2.5) on 208 days. Across the years with fuller monitoring, the share of Good days fell: an average of 88% in 1980–1982 versus 55% in 2023–2025.

How the days broke down each year

Each bar is one year. The colored segments show the share of monitored days that fell in each AQI category.

Share of monitored days in each AQI category, by year0%25%50%75%100%1980: Good 296 of 318 days1980: Moderate 19 of 318 days1980: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 318 days19801981: Good 289 of 352 days1981: Moderate 35 of 352 days1981: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 19 of 352 days1981: Unhealthy 9 of 352 days1982: Good 327 of 365 days1982: Moderate 37 of 365 days1982: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 365 days1983: Good 309 of 365 days1983: Moderate 43 of 365 days1983: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 365 days1983: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days1983: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1984: Good 267 of 366 days1984: Moderate 78 of 366 days1984: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 17 of 366 days1984: Unhealthy 4 of 366 days1985: Good 267 of 365 days1985: Moderate 72 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 25 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19851986: Good 206 of 340 days1986: Moderate 88 of 340 days1986: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 40 of 340 days1986: Unhealthy 5 of 340 days1986: Very Unhealthy 1 of 340 days1987: Good 199 of 365 days1987: Moderate 109 of 365 days1987: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 51 of 365 days1987: Unhealthy 6 of 365 days1988: Good 197 of 366 days1988: Moderate 113 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 32 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy 19 of 366 days1988: Very Unhealthy 5 of 366 days1989: Good 206 of 365 days1989: Moderate 130 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 27 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy 2 of 365 days1990: Good 199 of 365 days1990: Moderate 116 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy 6 of 365 days1990: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19901991: Good 209 of 365 days1991: Moderate 121 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 32 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days1992: Good 236 of 366 days1992: Moderate 102 of 366 days1992: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 26 of 366 days1992: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days1993: Good 204 of 365 days1993: Moderate 90 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 57 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy 14 of 365 days1994: Good 233 of 365 days1994: Moderate 103 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 22 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy 6 of 365 days1994: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1995: Good 234 of 365 days1995: Moderate 82 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 40 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy 7 of 365 days1995: Very Unhealthy 2 of 365 days19951996: Good 234 of 366 days1996: Moderate 97 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 28 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy 7 of 366 days1997: Good 222 of 365 days1997: Moderate 87 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 46 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy 10 of 365 days1998: Good 216 of 365 days1998: Moderate 80 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 49 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy 19 of 365 days1998: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1999: Good 79 of 365 days1999: Moderate 228 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy 15 of 365 days1999: Very Unhealthy 2 of 365 days2000: Good 63 of 366 days2000: Moderate 250 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 42 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy 11 of 366 days20002001: Good 72 of 365 days2001: Moderate 251 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 30 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy 12 of 365 days2002: Good 80 of 365 days2002: Moderate 243 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 25 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy 15 of 365 days2002: Very Unhealthy 2 of 365 days2003: Good 92 of 365 days2003: Moderate 251 of 365 days2003: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 16 of 365 days2003: Unhealthy 6 of 365 days2004: Good 101 of 366 days2004: Moderate 247 of 366 days2004: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 18 of 366 days2005: Good 106 of 365 days2005: Moderate 233 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 26 of 365 days20052006: Good 101 of 365 days2006: Moderate 243 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 18 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days2007: Good 90 of 365 days2007: Moderate 232 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 39 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days2008: Good 79 of 366 days2008: Moderate 270 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 15 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days2009: Good 108 of 365 days2009: Moderate 254 of 365 days2009: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2009: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2010: Good 105 of 365 days2010: Moderate 237 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 20 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days20102011: Good 142 of 365 days2011: Moderate 210 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 13 of 365 days2012: Good 163 of 366 days2012: Moderate 191 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days2013: Good 180 of 365 days2013: Moderate 183 of 365 days2013: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2014: Good 154 of 365 days2014: Moderate 211 of 365 days2015: Good 193 of 365 days2015: Moderate 169 of 365 days2015: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days20152016: Good 218 of 366 days2016: Moderate 145 of 366 days2016: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 366 days2017: Good 223 of 365 days2017: Moderate 142 of 365 days2018: Good 189 of 365 days2018: Moderate 174 of 365 days2018: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2019: Good 175 of 365 days2019: Moderate 190 of 365 days2020: Good 233 of 366 days2020: Moderate 133 of 366 days20202021: Good 201 of 365 days2021: Moderate 161 of 365 days2021: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days2022: Good 209 of 365 days2022: Moderate 155 of 365 days2022: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 365 days2023: Good 165 of 365 days2023: Moderate 193 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2024: Good 210 of 366 days2024: Moderate 152 of 366 days2024: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 4 of 366 days2025: Good 232 of 365 days2025: Moderate 133 of 365 days2025
  • Good
  • Moderate
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • Unhealthy
  • Very Unhealthy
  • Hazardous

Typical and high-end AQI over time

The median is the middle day of the year. The 90th percentile is the level that only the highest 10% of days exceeded.

Median and 90th-percentile daily AQI, by year0501001501980: 90th percentile AQI 481981: 90th percentile AQI 841982: 90th percentile AQI 511983: 90th percentile AQI 661984: 90th percentile AQI 871985: 90th percentile AQI 901986: 90th percentile AQI 1121987: 90th percentile AQI 1151988: 90th percentile AQI 1291989: 90th percentile AQI 971990: 90th percentile AQI 1151991: 90th percentile AQI 1001992: 90th percentile AQI 931993: 90th percentile AQI 1291994: 90th percentile AQI 1001995: 90th percentile AQI 1121996: 90th percentile AQI 1001997: 90th percentile AQI 1151998: 90th percentile AQI 1261999: 90th percentile AQI 1152000: 90th percentile AQI 1122001: 90th percentile AQI 1082002: 90th percentile AQI 1122003: 90th percentile AQI 872004: 90th percentile AQI 902005: 90th percentile AQI 932006: 90th percentile AQI 902007: 90th percentile AQI 1082008: 90th percentile AQI 842009: 90th percentile AQI 742010: 90th percentile AQI 932011: 90th percentile AQI 802012: 90th percentile AQI 772013: 90th percentile AQI 672014: 90th percentile AQI 712015: 90th percentile AQI 712016: 90th percentile AQI 672017: 90th percentile AQI 612018: 90th percentile AQI 682019: 90th percentile AQI 662020: 90th percentile AQI 602021: 90th percentile AQI 662022: 90th percentile AQI 612023: 90th percentile AQI 712024: 90th percentile AQI 672025: 90th percentile AQI 631980: Median AQI 271981: Median AQI 331982: Median AQI 301983: Median AQI 301984: Median AQI 381985: Median AQI 411986: Median AQI 441987: Median AQI 481988: Median AQI 481989: Median AQI 471990: Median AQI 491991: Median AQI 461992: Median AQI 441993: Median AQI 471994: Median AQI 451995: Median AQI 431996: Median AQI 441997: Median AQI 451998: Median AQI 431999: Median AQI 632000: Median AQI 632001: Median AQI 622002: Median AQI 612003: Median AQI 592004: Median AQI 612005: Median AQI 582006: Median AQI 612007: Median AQI 612008: Median AQI 582009: Median AQI 552010: Median AQI 582011: Median AQI 542012: Median AQI 522013: Median AQI 512014: Median AQI 522015: Median AQI 492016: Median AQI 472017: Median AQI 472018: Median AQI 502019: Median AQI 512020: Median AQI 452021: Median AQI 482022: Median AQI 482023: Median AQI 522024: Median AQI 472025: Median AQI 451980198519901995200020052010201520202025
  • Median daily AQI
  • 90th-percentile daily AQI

Main pollutant by day, 2025

On each monitored day, the AQI reflects whichever measured pollutant had the highest index. This counts how many days each pollutant set the AQI. A pollutant that was not measured here cannot appear.

PollutantDays as main pollutantShare of monitored days
Fine particles (PM2.5)20857%
Ozone15442%
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)31%

Year-by-year data

Annual AQI summary by year
YearDays with AQIGoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardousMedian AQI90th pct.Max AQIMain pollutant
202536523213300004563100PM2.5
202436621015240004767122PM2.5
202336516519361005271154PM2.5
202236520915510004861137PM2.5
202136520116130004866124PM2.5
20203662331330000456097PM2.5
20193651751900000516697PM2.5
201836518917420005068101PM2.5
201736522314200004761100PM2.5
201636621814530004767119PM2.5
201536519316930004971126PM2.5
201436515421100005271100PM2.5
201336518018320005167122PM2.5
2012366163191102005277154PM2.5
2011365142210130005480147PM2.5
2010365105237203005893169PM2.5
200936510825421005574169PM2.5
200836679270152005884161PM2.5
2007365902323940061108177PM2.5
2006365101243183006190164PM2.5
2005365106233260005893147PM2.5
2004366101247180006190136PM2.5
200336592251166005987195PM2.5
20023658024325152061112208PM2.5
20013657225130120062108195PM2.5
20003666325042110063112172PM2.5
19993657922841152063115205PM2.5
19983652168049191043126213Ozone
19973652228746100045115192Ozone
1996366234972870044100192Ozone
1995365234824072043112207Ozone
19943652331032261045100205Ozone
19933652049057140047129185Ozone
1992366236102262004493179Ozone
19913652091213230046100169Ozone
19903651991164361049115214Ozone
1989365206130272004797164Ozone
198836619711332195048129214Ozone
19873651991095160048115192Ozone
1986340206884051044112204Ozone
198536526772251004190187Ozone
198436626778174003887161Ozone
19833653094384103066204CO
19823653273710003051108CO
198135228935199003384185CO
19803182961930002748140CO

What this data can and can’t tell you

It is a county-level summary. EPA reports one AQI per day for the county, based on the monitors operating there. Air at a particular street, school or home can differ, especially near roads, industry or wildfire smoke.

It is not a health assessment. The AQI is EPA’s scale for communicating daily air quality. A county’s history can’t tell you what the health risk is for any particular person. For daily conditions and health guidance, see AirNow.

Rules change over time. EPA has revised AQI breakpoints, most recently for fine particles in 2024, so some year-to-year change can reflect the scale rather than the air.

Counties in North Carolina with a similar median AQI in 2025

All monitored counties in North Carolina

Source: U.S. EPA AirData, “Annual AQI by County” files for 1980–2025 (EPA download page). EPA file dates: 2026-06-26. Imported into EnviroNearby November 5, 2026. How we use this data · Report a problem