EnviroNearby

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina air quality history

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

48%
Good days in 2025
51
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 Mecklenburg, North Carolina on 365 days. 176 of those days (48%) were in the Good range, and the median daily AQI was 51. 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 251 days. Across the years with fuller monitoring, the share of Good days rose: an average of 26% in 1980–1982 versus 47% 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 73 of 366 days1980: Moderate 189 of 366 days1980: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 64 of 366 days1980: Unhealthy 29 of 366 days1980: Very Unhealthy 11 of 366 days19801981: Good 100 of 365 days1981: Moderate 187 of 365 days1981: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 55 of 365 days1981: Unhealthy 23 of 365 days1982: Good 113 of 365 days1982: Moderate 196 of 365 days1982: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 42 of 365 days1982: Unhealthy 13 of 365 days1982: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1983: Good 98 of 365 days1983: Moderate 181 of 365 days1983: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 44 of 365 days1983: Unhealthy 34 of 365 days1983: Very Unhealthy 8 of 365 days1984: Good 114 of 366 days1984: Moderate 191 of 366 days1984: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 46 of 366 days1984: Unhealthy 15 of 366 days1985: Good 109 of 365 days1985: Moderate 200 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 44 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy 11 of 365 days1985: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19851986: Good 83 of 365 days1986: Moderate 197 of 365 days1986: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 47 of 365 days1986: Unhealthy 32 of 365 days1986: Very Unhealthy 6 of 365 days1987: Good 143 of 365 days1987: Moderate 149 of 365 days1987: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 37 of 365 days1987: Unhealthy 29 of 365 days1987: Very Unhealthy 7 of 365 days1988: Good 152 of 366 days1988: Moderate 128 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 47 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy 20 of 366 days1988: Very Unhealthy 19 of 366 days1989: Good 200 of 365 days1989: Moderate 112 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy 10 of 365 days1990: Good 171 of 365 days1990: Moderate 115 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 53 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy 25 of 365 days1990: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19901991: Good 202 of 365 days1991: Moderate 110 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy 11 of 365 days1991: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1992: Good 217 of 366 days1992: Moderate 106 of 366 days1992: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 36 of 366 days1992: Unhealthy 7 of 366 days1993: Good 202 of 365 days1993: Moderate 99 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy 22 of 365 days1993: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1994: Good 249 of 365 days1994: Moderate 88 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 19 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy 9 of 365 days1995: Good 234 of 365 days1995: Moderate 82 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 36 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy 13 of 365 days19951996: Good 237 of 366 days1996: Moderate 76 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 37 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy 15 of 366 days1996: Very Unhealthy 1 of 366 days1997: Good 220 of 365 days1997: Moderate 82 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 39 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy 20 of 365 days1997: Very Unhealthy 4 of 365 days1998: Good 216 of 365 days1998: Moderate 59 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 46 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy 39 of 365 days1998: Very Unhealthy 5 of 365 days1999: Good 44 of 365 days1999: Moderate 248 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy 27 of 365 days1999: Very Unhealthy 3 of 365 days2000: Good 49 of 366 days2000: Moderate 254 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy 17 of 366 days2000: Very Unhealthy 3 of 366 days20002001: Good 49 of 365 days2001: Moderate 259 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 46 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy 10 of 365 days2001: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2002: Good 56 of 364 days2002: Moderate 255 of 364 days2002: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 28 of 364 days2002: Unhealthy 20 of 364 days2002: Very Unhealthy 5 of 364 days2003: Good 62 of 365 days2003: Moderate 277 of 365 days2003: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 22 of 365 days2003: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days2003: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2004: Good 67 of 366 days2004: Moderate 265 of 366 days2004: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 31 of 366 days2004: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days2004: Very Unhealthy 1 of 366 days2005: Good 41 of 365 days2005: Moderate 276 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 40 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy 7 of 365 days2005: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days20052006: Good 52 of 365 days2006: Moderate 273 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 30 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy 10 of 365 days2007: Good 57 of 365 days2007: Moderate 255 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 37 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy 14 of 365 days2007: Very Unhealthy 2 of 365 days2008: Good 81 of 366 days2008: Moderate 255 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 25 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy 5 of 366 days2009: Good 107 of 365 days2009: Moderate 250 of 365 days2009: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 365 days2010: Good 94 of 365 days2010: Moderate 247 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 20 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days20102011: Good 104 of 365 days2011: Moderate 229 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 24 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy 8 of 365 days2012: Good 128 of 366 days2012: Moderate 218 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 16 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy 4 of 366 days2013: Good 188 of 365 days2013: Moderate 175 of 365 days2013: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2014: Good 155 of 365 days2014: Moderate 208 of 365 days2014: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2015: Good 173 of 365 days2015: Moderate 183 of 365 days2015: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 9 of 365 days20152016: Good 185 of 366 days2016: Moderate 174 of 366 days2016: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 366 days2016: Unhealthy 1 of 366 days2017: Good 148 of 365 days2017: Moderate 214 of 365 days2017: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days2018: Good 173 of 360 days2018: Moderate 182 of 360 days2018: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 5 of 360 days2019: Good 161 of 365 days2019: Moderate 194 of 365 days2019: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 365 days2020: Good 213 of 366 days2020: Moderate 151 of 366 days2020: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 366 days20202021: Good 188 of 365 days2021: Moderate 175 of 365 days2021: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2022: Good 190 of 365 days2022: Moderate 173 of 365 days2022: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2023: Good 174 of 365 days2023: Moderate 185 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 365 days2024: Good 169 of 366 days2024: Moderate 193 of 366 days2024: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 366 days2024: Unhealthy 1 of 366 days2025: Good 176 of 365 days2025: Moderate 189 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 year0501001502001980: 90th percentile AQI 1511981: 90th percentile AQI 1361982: 90th percentile AQI 1121983: 90th percentile AQI 1581984: 90th percentile AQI 1281985: 90th percentile AQI 1121986: 90th percentile AQI 1511987: 90th percentile AQI 1471988: 90th percentile AQI 1511989: 90th percentile AQI 1151990: 90th percentile AQI 1401991: 90th percentile AQI 1151992: 90th percentile AQI 1051993: 90th percentile AQI 1261994: 90th percentile AQI 931995: 90th percentile AQI 1151996: 90th percentile AQI 1191997: 90th percentile AQI 1261998: 90th percentile AQI 1561999: 90th percentile AQI 1432000: 90th percentile AQI 1222001: 90th percentile AQI 1132002: 90th percentile AQI 1292003: 90th percentile AQI 932004: 90th percentile AQI 1002005: 90th percentile AQI 1122006: 90th percentile AQI 1052007: 90th percentile AQI 1152008: 90th percentile AQI 972009: 90th percentile AQI 752010: 90th percentile AQI 932011: 90th percentile AQI 972012: 90th percentile AQI 842013: 90th percentile AQI 642014: 90th percentile AQI 692015: 90th percentile AQI 712016: 90th percentile AQI 772017: 90th percentile AQI 662018: 90th percentile AQI 712019: 90th percentile AQI 712020: 90th percentile AQI 592021: 90th percentile AQI 672022: 90th percentile AQI 672023: 90th percentile AQI 712024: 90th percentile AQI 662025: 90th percentile AQI 631980: Median AQI 741981: Median AQI 631982: Median AQI 611983: Median AQI 661984: Median AQI 611985: Median AQI 601986: Median AQI 641987: Median AQI 581988: Median AQI 581989: Median AQI 491990: Median AQI 521991: Median AQI 471992: Median AQI 451993: Median AQI 481994: Median AQI 441995: Median AQI 441996: Median AQI 431997: Median AQI 441998: Median AQI 461999: Median AQI 672000: Median AQI 672001: Median AQI 642002: Median AQI 622003: Median AQI 612004: Median AQI 642005: Median AQI 642006: Median AQI 652007: Median AQI 642008: Median AQI 592009: Median AQI 552010: Median AQI 592011: Median AQI 572012: Median AQI 542013: Median AQI 492014: Median AQI 532015: Median AQI 522016: Median AQI 502017: Median AQI 532018: Median AQI 512019: Median AQI 522020: Median AQI 462021: Median AQI 492022: Median AQI 502023: Median AQI 512024: Median AQI 512025: Median AQI 511980198519901995200020052010201520202025
  • 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)25169%
Ozone11030%
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)41%

Year-by-year data

Annual AQI summary by year
YearDays with AQIGoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardousMedian AQI90th pct.Max AQIMain pollutant
20253651761890000516397PM2.5
202436616919331005166156PM2.5
202336517418560005171150PM2.5
202236519017320005067119PM2.5
202136518817520004967128PM2.5
202036621315120004659112PM2.5
2019365161194100005271136PM2.5
201836017318250005171108PM2.5
201736514821430005366115PM2.5
201636618517461005077155PM2.5
201536517318390005271129PM2.5
201436515520820005369105PM2.5
201336518817520004964101PM2.5
2012366128218164005484166PM2.5
2011365104229248005797169PM2.5
201036594247204005993177PM2.5
200936510725080005575133PM2.5
200836681255255005997190PM2.5
20073655725537142064115223PM2.5
20063655227330100065105195PM2.5
2005365412764071064112206PM2.5
2004366672653121064100202PM2.5
200336562277223106193209PM2.5
20023645625528205062129215PM2.5
20013654925946101064113201PM2.5
20003664925443173067122222PM2.5
19993654424843273067143210PM2.5
19983652165946395046156214Ozone
19973652208239204044126205Ozone
19963662377637151043119220Ozone
19953652348236130044115187Ozone
199436524988199004493192Ozone
19933652029941221048126238Ozone
19923662171063670045105197Ozone
199136520211041111047115203Ozone
199036517111553251052140209Ozone
198936520011243100049115192Ozone
1988366152128472019058151248Ozone
198736514314937297058147224Ozone
19863658319747326064151212CO
198536510920044111060112208CO
198436611419146150061128197CO
19833659818144348066158220CO
198236511319642131061112207CO
198136510018755230063136200CO
198036673189642911074151241CO

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