Norfolk Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Norfolk's air quality (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC area) had a median daily AQI of 43 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 0 days (0.0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 254 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 95 (Moderate). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 221 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 30, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 53, 0 days above 100, peak 95).
- Good: 69.6%
- Moderate: 30.4%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.0%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
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How was Norfolk's air quality in 2021?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 43, with 0 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 4th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 95 (Moderate).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 221 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: February; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Norfolk in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Norfolk's (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC) median daily AQI for 2021 at 43, which is Good. 0 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 95.
Which month had the worst air quality in Norfolk in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was February (median AQI 30, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 53, 0 days above 100, peak 95).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Norfolk's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 43 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Norfolk month by month in 2021
Norfolk air quality month by month, 2021 (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 31 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| Februarycleanest | 28 | 30 | 0 | 67 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 41 | 0 | 71 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 44 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 48 | 0 | 90 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 39 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 53 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 52 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 42 | 0 | 64 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 38 | 0 | 55 | O3 |
| November | 30 | 36 | 0 | 59 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 46 | 0 | 62 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 43 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 42.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Norfolk
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Norfolk's AQI at 44 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Norfolk air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-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.