Winston-Salem Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Winston-Salem's air quality (Winston-Salem, NC area) had a median daily AQI of 50 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 3 days (0.8%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 183 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 124 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 250 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was June (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was November (median 49, 2 days above 100, peak 124).
- Good: 50.1%
- Moderate: 49.0%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Winston-Salem Homes
Air quality in Winston-Salem is moderate (AQI 52), 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.
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How was Winston-Salem's air quality in 2021?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 50, with 3 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 5th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 124 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 250 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: June; worst: November.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Winston-Salem in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Winston-Salem's (Winston-Salem, NC) median daily AQI for 2021 at 50, which is Good. 3 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 124.
Which month had the worst air quality in Winston-Salem in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was June (median AQI 43, 0 days above 100) and the worst was November (median 49, 2 days above 100, peak 124).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Winston-Salem's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 50 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 50.
Winston-Salem month by month in 2021
Winston-Salem air quality month by month, 2021 (Winston-Salem, NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 51 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 46 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 45 | 0 | 85 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 51 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 54 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| Junecleanest | 30 | 43 | 0 | 100 | O3 |
| July | 31 | 60 | 1 | 105 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 58 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 49 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 46 | 0 | 68 | PM2.5 |
| Novemberworst | 30 | 49 | 2 | 124 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 52 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 50 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 50.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Winston-Salem
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Winston-Salem's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Winston-Salem air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Winston-Salem, NC), 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.