Columbus Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Columbus's air quality (Columbus, OH area) had a median daily AQI of 52 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 170 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 100 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 271 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was February (median 58, 0 days above 100, peak 87).
- Good: 46.6%
- Moderate: 53.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Columbus's air quality in 2021?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 52, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 1st cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 100 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 271 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: March; worst: February.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Columbus in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Columbus's (Columbus, OH) median daily AQI for 2021 at 52, which is Moderate. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 100.
Which month had the worst air quality in Columbus in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was March (median AQI 46, 0 days above 100) and the worst was February (median 58, 0 days above 100, peak 87).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Columbus's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here. 2021's median of 52 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 53.
Columbus month by month in 2021
Columbus air quality month by month, 2021 (Columbus, OH, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 52 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| Februaryworst | 28 | 58 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| Marchcleanest | 31 | 46 | 0 | 72 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 48 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 50 | 0 | 80 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 50 | 0 | 84 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 57 | 0 | 92 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 53 | 0 | 100 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 46 | 0 | 77 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 47 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 46 | 0 | 94 | 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 1st cleanest by days above AQI 100 — the best year on record here.
2021's median of 52 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 53.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Columbus
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Columbus's AQI at 32 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Columbus air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Columbus, OH), 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.