Richmond Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Richmond's air quality (Richmond, VA area) had a median daily AQI of 48 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 3 days (0.8%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 206 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 256 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was January (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 59, 2 days above 100, peak 112).
- Good: 56.4%
- Moderate: 42.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.8%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Extra Protection for Richmond Homes
Air quality in Richmond 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 Richmond's air quality in 2021?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 48, with 3 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 112 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 256 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: January; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Richmond in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Richmond's (Richmond, VA) median daily AQI for 2021 at 48, which is Good. 3 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 112.
Which month had the worst air quality in Richmond in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was January (median AQI 41, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 59, 2 days above 100, peak 112).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Richmond's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 48 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 47.
Richmond month by month in 2021
Richmond air quality month by month, 2021 (Richmond, VA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Januarycleanest | 31 | 41 | 0 | 76 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 44 | 0 | 75 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 44 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 46 | 0 | 87 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 51 | 1 | 101 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 44 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 59 | 2 | 112 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 53 | 0 | 97 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 49 | 0 | 71 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 41 | 0 | 64 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 44 | 0 | 66 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 52 | 0 | 65 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 48 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 47.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Richmond
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Richmond's AQI at 52 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Richmond air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Richmond, VA), 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.