EnviroNearby

Wake County, North Carolina air quality history

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

68%
Good days in 2025
43
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 Wake, North Carolina on 365 days. 250 of those days (68%) were in the Good range, and the median daily AQI was 43. 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 218 days. Across the years with fuller monitoring, the share of Good days rose: an average of 42% in 1980–1982 versus 61% 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 76 of 265 days1980: Moderate 91 of 265 days1980: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 69 of 265 days1980: Unhealthy 27 of 265 days1980: Very Unhealthy 2 of 265 days19801981: Good 168 of 363 days1981: Moderate 162 of 363 days1981: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 25 of 363 days1981: Unhealthy 8 of 363 days1982: Good 139 of 265 days1982: Moderate 90 of 265 days1982: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 30 of 265 days1982: Unhealthy 5 of 265 days1982: Very Unhealthy 1 of 265 days1983: Good 104 of 331 days1983: Moderate 158 of 331 days1983: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 51 of 331 days1983: Unhealthy 16 of 331 days1983: Very Unhealthy 2 of 331 days1984: Good 117 of 361 days1984: Moderate 195 of 361 days1984: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 38 of 361 days1984: Unhealthy 7 of 361 days1984: Very Unhealthy 4 of 361 days1985: Good 134 of 365 days1985: Moderate 186 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 365 days1985: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days1985: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19851986: Good 91 of 365 days1986: Moderate 197 of 365 days1986: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 61 of 365 days1986: Unhealthy 16 of 365 days1987: Good 153 of 359 days1987: Moderate 151 of 359 days1987: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 359 days1987: Unhealthy 10 of 359 days1987: Very Unhealthy 2 of 359 days1988: Good 146 of 366 days1988: Moderate 143 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 44 of 366 days1988: Unhealthy 18 of 366 days1988: Very Unhealthy 15 of 366 days1989: Good 217 of 365 days1989: Moderate 110 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 30 of 365 days1989: Unhealthy 8 of 365 days1990: Good 178 of 365 days1990: Moderate 130 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 44 of 365 days1990: Unhealthy 12 of 365 days1990: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days19901991: Good 181 of 365 days1991: Moderate 152 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 28 of 365 days1991: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days1992: Good 240 of 366 days1992: Moderate 108 of 366 days1992: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 18 of 366 days1993: Good 198 of 365 days1993: Moderate 112 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 365 days1993: Unhealthy 14 of 365 days1994: Good 213 of 365 days1994: Moderate 110 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 31 of 365 days1994: Unhealthy 11 of 365 days1995: Good 223 of 365 days1995: Moderate 85 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 365 days1995: Unhealthy 14 of 365 days19951996: Good 219 of 366 days1996: Moderate 94 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 38 of 366 days1996: Unhealthy 15 of 366 days1997: Good 200 of 365 days1997: Moderate 88 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 54 of 365 days1997: Unhealthy 22 of 365 days1997: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days1998: Good 199 of 365 days1998: Moderate 76 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 43 of 365 days1998: Unhealthy 40 of 365 days1998: Very Unhealthy 7 of 365 days1999: Good 82 of 363 days1999: Moderate 208 of 363 days1999: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 41 of 363 days1999: Unhealthy 23 of 363 days1999: Very Unhealthy 9 of 363 days2000: Good 80 of 366 days2000: Moderate 221 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 51 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy 13 of 366 days2000: Very Unhealthy 1 of 366 days20002001: Good 79 of 365 days2001: Moderate 224 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 56 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy 6 of 365 days2002: Good 86 of 365 days2002: Moderate 218 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 38 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy 17 of 365 days2002: Very Unhealthy 6 of 365 days2003: Good 88 of 363 days2003: Moderate 245 of 363 days2003: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 24 of 363 days2003: Unhealthy 5 of 363 days2003: Very Unhealthy 1 of 363 days2004: Good 112 of 366 days2004: Moderate 236 of 366 days2004: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 18 of 366 days2005: Good 91 of 365 days2005: Moderate 237 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 32 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy 5 of 365 days20052006: Good 70 of 365 days2006: Moderate 275 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 20 of 365 days2007: Good 91 of 365 days2007: Moderate 240 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 32 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy 2 of 365 days2008: Good 107 of 366 days2008: Moderate 243 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 15 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy 1 of 366 days2009: Good 133 of 365 days2009: Moderate 229 of 365 days2009: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days2010: Good 116 of 365 days2010: Moderate 240 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 9 of 365 days20102011: Good 146 of 365 days2011: Moderate 196 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 21 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy 2 of 365 days2012: Good 170 of 366 days2012: Moderate 189 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy 1 of 366 days2013: Good 151 of 365 days2013: Moderate 214 of 365 days2014: Good 124 of 365 days2014: Moderate 241 of 365 days2015: Good 142 of 365 days2015: Moderate 220 of 365 days2015: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days20152016: Good 154 of 366 days2016: Moderate 209 of 366 days2016: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 366 days2017: Good 161 of 365 days2017: Moderate 204 of 365 days2018: Good 152 of 361 days2018: Moderate 209 of 361 days2019: Good 141 of 365 days2019: Moderate 224 of 365 days2020: Good 222 of 365 days2020: Moderate 142 of 365 days2020: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 365 days20202021: Good 199 of 365 days2021: Moderate 166 of 365 days2022: Good 228 of 365 days2022: Moderate 136 of 365 days2022: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 365 days2023: Good 190 of 365 days2023: Moderate 170 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 5 of 365 days2024: Good 226 of 366 days2024: Moderate 139 of 366 days2024: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 366 days2025: Good 250 of 365 days2025: Moderate 115 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 971982: 90th percentile AQI 1081983: 90th percentile AQI 1291984: 90th percentile AQI 1151985: 90th percentile AQI 1051986: 90th percentile AQI 1261987: 90th percentile AQI 1191988: 90th percentile AQI 1471989: 90th percentile AQI 1011990: 90th percentile AQI 1191991: 90th percentile AQI 971992: 90th percentile AQI 871993: 90th percentile AQI 1151994: 90th percentile AQI 1081995: 90th percentile AQI 1151996: 90th percentile AQI 1191997: 90th percentile AQI 1361998: 90th percentile AQI 1561999: 90th percentile AQI 1432000: 90th percentile AQI 1192001: 90th percentile AQI 1192002: 90th percentile AQI 1292003: 90th percentile AQI 902004: 90th percentile AQI 902005: 90th percentile AQI 1012006: 90th percentile AQI 912007: 90th percentile AQI 1002008: 90th percentile AQI 872009: 90th percentile AQI 722010: 90th percentile AQI 802011: 90th percentile AQI 872012: 90th percentile AQI 682013: 90th percentile AQI 662014: 90th percentile AQI 662015: 90th percentile AQI 662016: 90th percentile AQI 672017: 90th percentile AQI 642018: 90th percentile AQI 652019: 90th percentile AQI 642020: 90th percentile AQI 612021: 90th percentile AQI 652022: 90th percentile AQI 592023: 90th percentile AQI 662024: 90th percentile AQI 602025: 90th percentile AQI 581980: Median AQI 771981: Median AQI 531982: Median AQI 501983: Median AQI 681984: Median AQI 611985: Median AQI 591986: Median AQI 701987: Median AQI 571988: Median AQI 581989: Median AQI 471990: Median AQI 511991: Median AQI 511992: Median AQI 431993: Median AQI 471994: Median AQI 461995: Median AQI 441996: Median AQI 461997: Median AQI 471998: Median AQI 471999: Median AQI 622000: Median AQI 642001: Median AQI 612002: Median AQI 602003: Median AQI 582004: Median AQI 592005: Median AQI 602006: Median AQI 612007: Median AQI 602008: Median AQI 562009: Median AQI 542010: Median AQI 562011: Median AQI 542012: Median AQI 522013: Median AQI 522014: Median AQI 542015: Median AQI 522016: Median AQI 532017: Median AQI 522018: Median AQI 522019: Median AQI 532020: Median AQI 462021: Median AQI 482022: Median AQI 462023: Median AQI 492024: Median AQI 462025: Median AQI 431980198519901995200020052010201520202025
  • 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)21860%
Ozone14740%

Year-by-year data

Annual AQI summary by year
YearDays with AQIGoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardousMedian AQI90th pct.Max AQIMain pollutant
20253652501150000435876PM2.5
202436622613910004660112PM2.5
202336519017050004966130PM2.5
202236522813610004659122PM2.5
20213651991660000486596PM2.5
202036522214210004661101PM2.5
20193651412240000536493PM2.5
20183611522090000526590PM2.5
201736516120400005264100PM2.5
201636615420930005367135PM2.5
201536514222030005266105PM2.5
201436512424100005466100PM2.5
20133651512140000526691PM2.5
201236617018961005268161PM2.5
2011365146196212005487156PM2.5
201036511624090005680143PM2.5
200936513322930005472112PM2.5
2008366107243151005687181PM2.5
2007365912403220060100166PM2.5
200636570275200006191143PM2.5
2005365912373250060101164PM2.5
2004366112236180005990150PM2.5
200336388245245105890210PM2.5
20023658621838176060129205PM2.5
2001365792245660061119169PM2.5
20003668022151131064119209PM2.5
19993638220841239062143220PM2.5
19983651997643407047156215Ozone
19973652008854221047136209Ozone
19963662199438150046119187Ozone
19953652238543140044115185Ozone
199436521311031110046108197Ozone
199336519811241140047115192Ozone
1992366240108180004387147Ozone
1991365181152284005197179Ozone
199036517813044121051119206Ozone
19893652171103080047101185CO
1988366146143441815058147227CO
198735915315143102057119208CO
19863659119761160070126190CO
19853651341864131059105202CO
19843611171953874061115222CO
198333110415851162068129208CO
1982265139903051050108203Ozone
1981363168162258005397177CO
1980265769169272077151204Ozone

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